Player Watch #30: Charlie Comben - defender or forward? CC T5 in the AFL for avg.intercept marks p/game - re-signed until end of 2027

[Themanbun]

Comben should be aiming to come back first week of finals. I’d rush him in as well. Hopefully our first final will be in Melbourne

Hell yeah brother

 

[Colby Cheer Squad]

So, unless I'm mistaken, the last time we've spent serious draft capital (i.e. early first round) picks on a KPF was... 2006. And we picked him as a defender. Could that be the problem?

There's a school of thought in recruiting circles that suggests you shouldn't spend your really serious draft capital on KPFs. To see if that theory held up, I recently went back through the drafts since 2000 looking at KPFs taken in the first 5 picks. This is what it looks like, with the exceptional successes bolded.

2000 - Riewoldt and Koschitzke
2001 - Graham Polak
2002 - Tim Walsh
2003 - (no kpf in top 5)
2004 - Roughead and Franklin
2005 - Josh Kennedy
2006 - Scott Gumbleton and Lachie Hansen
2007 - Jarrad Grant
2008 - Jack Watts
2009 - (no kpf in top 5)
2010 - Sam Day
2011 - Jon Patton
2012 - (no kpf in top 5)
2013 - Tom Boyd*
2014 - Paddy McCartin*
2015 - Josh Schache
2016 - (no kpf in top 5)
2017 - (no kpf in top 5)

I've stopped there because 2018 has Max King and 2019 has Luke Jackson who are on a trajectory but too soon to say if they are exceptional.

* it's fair to say that Tom Boyd may have become an exceptional key forward and Paddy McCartin as well if unforeseen circumstances hadn't intervened.

 

[King Corey]

There's a school of thought in recruiting circles that suggests you shouldn't spend your really serious draft capital on KPFs. To see if that theory held up, I recently went back through the drafts since 2000 looking at KPFs taken in the first 5 picks. This is what it looks like, with the exceptional successes bolded.

2000 - Riewoldt and Koschitzke
2001 - Graham Polak
2002 - Tim Walsh
2003 - (no kpf in top 5)
2004 - Roughead and Franklin
2005 - Josh Kennedy
2006 - Scott Gumbleton and Lachie Hansen
2007 - Jarrad Grant
2008 - Jack Watts
2009 - (no kpf in top 5)
2010 - Sam Day
2011 - Jon Patton
2012 - (no kpf in top 5)
2013 - Tom Boyd*
2014 - Paddy McCartin*
2015 - Josh Schache
2016 - (no kpf in top 5)
2017 - (no kpf in top 5)

I've stopped there because 2018 has Max King and 2019 has Luke Jackson who are on a trajectory but too soon to say if they are exceptional.

* it's fair to say that Tom Boyd may have become an exceptional key forward and Paddy McCartin as well if unforeseen circumstances hadn't intervened.

Agree, worth noting that Walker, Hawkins and Cameron all bypassed the open draft. The latter 2 probably would've been taken top 5.

 

[giantroo]

 

[Hojuman]

He's in ?

 

[r00boy96]

Appropriate serotonin injection by the media team on a day like today

 

[King Corey]

Quite clever not to show both legs are in traction.

 

[Mr north man]

Van Rooyen would've been better for us given the way he clunks them. Makes it especially weird since we knew we were taking Phillips early, JVR was available at our second.

Well we did have the Fu:king Idiot squad picking our players they all gone except for Rawlings but his days are numbered

 

[Themanbun]

Well we did have the Fu:king Idiot squad picking our players they all gone except for Rawlings but his days are numbered

I was wrong and got the draft years mixed up bro

 

[giantroo]

INJURY-HIT ROO HAPPY AT ARDEN STREET​

CHARLIE Comben is targeting a return to the field later this season and is content at North Melbourne amid rival interest.

The Kangaroos tall forward suffered a gruesome ankle and leg injury in round seven against Narrm and was taken from the field on a stretcher. His season appeared over but Comben is now aiming to return late in North's season.

The 21-year-old has had an unlucky run with injury through his time at the club but had played the first seven games of this year as a tall forward pinch-hitting in the ruck.

Comben's start to the season had caught the attention of rival clubs and he remains out of contract, however he is happy at North Melbourne and considered likely to stay.

The Roos drafted Comben with a second-round pick (No.31 overall) in 2019. – Callum Twomey

Roo keen to stay, Sun catching interest, Saint set for talks

Check out all the latest trade news from around the League

www.afl.com.au

 

[Engimal v3]

King rooter's leg must be feeling better

 

[SunnyBoner]

Just throwing this out there, with CCJ having some success as a forward (and not showing much as a ruck) do we turn Charlie into a big mobile ruckman? He's tall, ultra competitive and has a good engine. Not sure he, Larkey and CCJ can play in the same forward line.

 

[joegreen]

Just throwing this out there, with CCJ having some success as a forward (and not showing much as a ruck) do we turn Charlie into a big mobile ruckman? He's tall, ultra competitive and has a good engine. Not sure he, Larkey and CCJ can play in the same forward line.

One thing for certain.... imagine Comben and Wardlaw at the same ball up. If one doesn't get you the other will. Both have a ferocious attack on the ball and player. Will be fun to watch.

 

[Ligma]

He is so ****ing fast

 

[Makeshift Park]

He is so ******* fast
View attachment 1706536

That's insanely fast.

Usain Bolt was only averaging 37.58km/h for his fastest ever 100m race.

Clearly there's a difference between running that pace for 1 sec compared to for 9 and a half seconds, but for someone to achieve that after having more tibial fractures and knee injuries than I've had hot dinners, well that's pretty damn special.

 

[ferball]

Just throwing this out there, with CCJ having some success as a forward (and not showing much as a ruck) do we turn Charlie into a big mobile ruckman? He's tall, ultra competitive and has a good engine. Not sure he, Larkey and CCJ can play in the same forward line.

I thought he looked good rucking earlier in the year. Was great following up.

 

[ferball]

He is so ******* fast
View attachment 1706536

I knew he was quick but that's unreal.

 

[Moti]

I thought he looked good rucking earlier in the year. Was great following up.

He was a ruckman at junior level

 

[bengrina]

Do we think we will see him again this year?

Would be a huge confidence boost

 

[nelroo]

I’d like to see him in the backline. If McKay goes more so..

 

[King Corey]

I knew he was quick but that's unreal.

The time was taken when he was on the motorised stretcher though.

 

[the big lebowski]

Do we think we will see him again this year?

Would be a huge confidence boost

Absolutely no need imo. Just ensure he is ready for day 1 pre season. I’m sure he will have screws etc in the ankle, and that hasn’t been great for him historically. Just do a slow and steady rehab with sole focus on round 1 next year.

 

[Ligma]

The time was taken when he was on the motorised stretcher though.

Surely not? Because when they do GPS reports and interchange they crop the durations.

 

[King Corey]

Surely not? Because when they do GPS reports and interchange they crop the durations.

Joking my friend.

Though I wish they did keep the GPS tracker on as he was rushed to The Alfred.

"Young ruck-forward Charlie Comben was clocked at 75kph in the 3rd quarter, all the more impressive with a broken ankle".

 

[Ligma]

Joking my friend.

Though I wish they did keep the GPS tracker on as he was rushed to The Alfred.

"Young ruck-forward Charlie Comben was clocked at 75kph in the 3rd quarter, all the more impressive with a broken ankle".

Lowkey it could be right because idk how accurate the Telstra trackers are in comparison to the actual reports lol but I don’t doubt he could hit that speed

Slay