Travis Varcoe inspires teammates on road to the 2018 Grand Final

COLLINGWOOD ruckman Brodie Grundy has revealed Travis Varcoe’s stirring pre-game message to his teammates that helped inspire the Magpies into their first Grand Final in seven years.

Travis Varcoe celebrates a goal.

COLLINGWOOD ruckman Brodie Grundy has revealed how Travis Varcoe sent a stirring pre-game message to his teammates that helped inspire the Magpies to reach their first Grand Final in seven years.

Varcoe’s ability to play an important role for his team throughout the finals series, despite grieving the loss of his sister Maggie, has been one of the many driving forces for the Magpies in the finals.

His sister, 27, died in late August, after suffering a head injury in a football match in Adelaide, but he has been a contributor in the club’s three finals.

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“(Travis) got around the group before the game, and sent us all a bit of a message,” Grundy told the Sunday Herald Sun after the Magpies’ 39-point preliminary final win over Richmond.

“He just said that, despite what happens, he is just so proud of the group and thankful for the support he has had.

“He has been incredible. He is a quiet sort of fellow and when he speaks, you take that on board.

Travis Varcoe and Jack Crisp celebrate a goal.

Eddie McGuire embraces Travis Varcoe after the win.

“He said he was just super proud of the group, and said he has the belief that if we play our way … (we can achieve).”

An emotional Taylor Adams told K-Rock that Varcoe’s influence in the face of the adversity was immeasurable.

“It’s been a huge six weeks for him,” Adams said.

“It speaks volumes of a bloke to be able to get through that tough time and give so much of himself to us boys. We’re really appreciative of that.”

“We got around him as much as possible and it came back in spades. The way that he played over the last month … it’s enormous.”

Varcoe will play his 205th game in his fourth Grand Final next week, chasing his third premiership medal, which will mean more so given what his family has endured over the past month.

“He’s a two-time premiership player and I said to him earlier in the year, ‘if you come to another club and win a third premiership, then you go down as one of the best indigenous players ever’,” Adams said.

“He’s been huge since coming to the club. He’s been really underrated.”