THE SEISMIC CHANGE CONTINUES WITH VARCOE DEPARTING WESTERN BULLDOGS.
The Western Bulldogs’ summer of seismic change will continue with the departure of development coach Travis Varcoe.
Varcoe, who has been at Whitten Oval for three years, will leave in the coming weeks.
He will be the third coach to quit, with more football department personnel anticipated to follow as the Dogs restructure the team under Chris Grant and Luke Beveridge.
Varcoe, a two-time Geelong premiership player who previously played for Collingwood, joined towards the end of 2020 and worked primarily with the VFL program.
In addition to coaching duties, he served as a mentor for Indigenous players Jamarra Ugle-Hagan and Arthur Jones, and was involved in the club’s Reconciliation Action Plan.
Varcoe joins assistant coaches Marc Webb and Rohan Smith in leaving the club this summer.
According to SEN.com.au, Webb took the decision to return home to Perth, while club legend Smith was told his time was over, despite coach Luke Beveridge’s strong backing.
Forwards coach Matt Spangher is expected to stay, as is midfield coach Brendon Lade.
The other development coaches are Stef Martin and Jamie Maddocks, while Stewart Edge coached Footscray, whose season ended on Saturday.
Despite indications of interest in Stuart Dew as a replacement, the club has not signed the former Gold Coast Suns coach.
Many clubs are watching the Richmond coaching job closely since the decision will impact the availability of crucial candidates.
Premiership player Toby McLean, as well as veterans Taylor Duryea and Tim O’Brien, are all without contracts.
The Western Bulldogs have historically waited until after the best and fairest, which will be held on October 4 this year, to make most list alterations.
Early this week, exit meetings will be place for VFL players on the Dogs senior list.
