Varcoe, who was named the coach of Picola United’s Finest from 55 (years of existence), coached the club’s back-to-back premierships in 2016-17 and Cheong was coach of the reserves team with a trifecta of titles between 2015-17.
Cheong was recruited as a full back for the senior team and played in Varcoe’s 2016 team.
Several of his players from those three flag wins were still playing with the team on the day of the heritage reunion, against Katunga, on Saturday.
Varcoe coached the club to a third grand final, in 2018, but they lost to Rennie. He arrived at Picola United in 2014 as chairman of selectors, then took over from friend and coach of the club Dave Daniel, looking to address the club’s premiership drought — which stretched back to 1967.
Ironically it was Varcoe who was coaching Waaia — which he also took to back-to-back flags — in 1994-95, when they best the Russell Byrnes coached Picola team.
Varcoe remembers the pressure on the club to win the flag as it was hosting the Picola league grand final on its home ground.
His son Rhys was playing with the Picola resereves on Saturday.
There were several familiar faces on the field from those glory years, including multiple best and fairest — and current captain — Blake Jorgensen.
Also on the ground was club president, and 2016-17 premiership captain Clinton Barnes.
Current coach, Darby Walsh, was also around the club during its glory days.
The club auctioned off the jumpers they were wearing for the reserves and senior matches on Saturday night — featuring the clubs that folded to form Picola United (Barmah, Cummeragunja, Moira and Yalca).
