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

[ChairmanZia]

Dawson has wheels brother

could be something

we just need to ensure we have defenders who can complement each other well

 

[ferball]

I think the issue is that their legspeed are not good.

Last year with logue mackay corr, we got beaten a lot on speed

McKay, Corr and KDawson are all some of the fastest defenders in the comp. As is Chom. Corr may have lost some toe due to injuries but when he arrived at north he was as fast as anyone in the side.

 

[perplexed]

I think the issue is that their legspeed are not good.

Last year with logue mackay corr, we got beaten a lot on speed

Not sure what you are on about here. Comben and Logue are both very fast for key defenders - see link below. Both Corr and K. Dawson are quick too.

The AFL's fastest players and top speeds revealed

See which speedster has clocked the top pace at your club 🏃‍♂️

www.zerohanger.com

 

[Possession]

This dude just needs to survive one more game and then rest up over the bye. Scares the hell out of me every game. What a fantastic start to the season he's had though.

 

[Chadwiko]

Pretty good today

 

[Northwards]

Someone mentioned earlier that before his last year or so of juniors he was midfielder before growing.

Makes alot of sense as to why he looks a clueless as a forward. Our structure doesn’t help but seems to run to the wrong spots. The fact that he wasn’t always a forward makes me feel more comfortable sending him back as I don’t think he’d make it as a forward.

He’s playing really well as a defender and looks extremely confident down there which is important for his football and body. Confidence a massive thing after a big injury and effects how your body reacts to movements in the air and landing. I think we leave him down there. Like others have said, lock him in as part of the defensive spine for years to come

 

[Possession]

Once again offered nothing once swung forward for a dead quarter, but saved our bacon several times down back for the whole game before that. He is a defender.

 

[Roos92]

Looks the goods and shining light. Will probably get injured again soon knowing our luck.

 

[ohmygewd]

LoL...he plays 2sec's in the forward line and people are having a go at his forward play and wanting him to somehow kick 10 goals in a total of 40mins of forward time all season.
Run's to the wrong spots as opposed to the regular forwards who just runs away from the ball carrier...give me a break!

 

[northbergs]

Once again offered nothing once swung forward for a dead quarter, but saved our bacon several times down back for the whole game before that. He is a defender.

Be different if the ball came in differently.


On iPhone using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[Possession]

Be different in the ball came in differently.


On iPhone using BigFooty.com mobile app

Definitely. Until it does though, I'd rather he be down back intercepting and warding off much uglier 100+ point beltings. Forward line and its delivery needs urgent repair, but Clarko and Chom should focus on what he's best contributing to the team for now.

 

[The acurate one]

LoL...he plays 2sec's in the forward line and people are having a go at his forward play and wanting him to somehow kick 10 goals in a total of 40mins of forward time all season.
Run's to the wrong spots as opposed to the regular forwards who just runs away from the ball carrier...give me a break!

There's plenty of nuts around these here parts, fyi

 

[archereleven]

I hope he's moved forward as soon as Gus starts playing well.

Forward line is a farce.

On SM-G991B using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[dus]

Need one of him at either end.

Cracks in hard. Marking beast.

Linking up and getting plenty of the pill also.

 

[Engimal v3]

I was wrong about Comben's capability as a defender

 

[justroyal]

Who is a better defender? Loge or Charlie?

 

[justroyal]

Chom will be, still working on the trade though so on impact this year I suppose Griff.

Perfect. I’ll ask another one, who’s a better shot at goal?

 

[justroyal]

I get where your going Chom will be a much better forward, potentially elite.

Revisit these highlights

Damn. You knifey-spooned me. Touché good sir.

 

[cybercrab]

Just let him have some continuity, Petrie could've kicked way more goals if he wasn't a swingman for half of his career

 

[CURVE]

I think we have found our CHB for the next decade, and now others are starting to see it the same way.

Nine things we learned

7) North has found a key defender for the next 10 years​

There's no denying North Melbourne is in dire straits, but there is at least one silver lining: Charlie Comben's transformation into one of the competition's best intercept defenders. Originally drafted as a forward and having endured a torrid run of injuries that saw him play just two matches in his first three years at North before a horrific leg break in 2023, Comben's shift in the backline was originally out of self-preservation. But it has turned out to be a masterstroke. Comben is currently ranked third in the competition for intercept marks with an average of 3.8 per match, behind only Sam Taylor

15

Sam Taylor

Age

25

Ht

198cm

Wt

95kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

10.0

3star

K

4.6

2star

HB

5.4

4star

M

3.3

3star

T

2.1

4star

MG

130.5

2star

D

8.0

2star

K

2.5

1star

HB

5.5

3star

M

2.8

3star

T

2.5

3star

MG

60.8

1star

D

8.6

3star

K

3.0

1star

HB

5.6

4star

M

1.2

2star

T

2.8

5star

MG

110.8

2star

and Harris Andrews

31

Harris Andrews

Age

28

Ht

202cm

Wt

98kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.8

3star

K

7.4

3star

HB

5.4

4star

M

5.6

5star

T

1.6

4star

MG

151.7

2star

D

17.0

4star

K

9.0

4star

HB

8.0

4star

M

4.0

4star

T

2.0

3star

D

9.8

3star

K

5.0

2star

HB

4.8

4star

M

3.4

4star

T

1.6

4star

MG

94.0

2star

(two All-Australians). Yes, North is still conceding 100-plus points every game, but it could be a lot worse if Comben wasn't there. Only 19 games into his career and with only eight played in the backline, Comben is playing like a far more experienced player and will be instrumental in whatever rise North Melbourne manages this year and into the future. – Sophie Welsh

Charlie Comben competes with Todd Marshall

4

Todd Marshall

Age

26

Ht

198cm

Wt

94kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

9.0

2star

K

6.4

3star

HB

2.5

2star

M

3.3

3star

T

2.5

4star

G

1.1

4star

D

8.9

2star

K

7.1

3star

HB

1.8

1star

M

3.8

4star

T

3.0

4star

G

1.1

5star

D

9.6

3star

K

5.6

3star

HB

4.0

3star

M

3.0

3star

T

2.4

4star

G

1.6

5star

during the R11 match between North Melbourne and Yartapuulti (Port Adelaide) at Blundstone Arena on May 25, 2024. Picture: Getty Images/AFL Photos

 

[Masked Avenger]

Might have found our Captain too.

He plays annoyed.

 

[Colby Cheer Squad]

LoL...he plays 2sec's in the forward line and people are having a go at his forward play and wanting him to somehow kick 10 goals in a total of 40mins of forward time all season.
Run's to the wrong spots as opposed to the regular forwards who just runs away from the ball carrier...give me a break!

I went to VFL games swapping ends each quarter to watch him play forward, and I'm convinced he could become the Drew Petrie replacement we've been needing since the end of 2016. Playing in defence this year for Chom is the equivalent of Drew's 2006. We needed Drew in defence that year, he acquitted himself brilliantly, but we needed him to go forward the following year, and he was even better. I remember thinking it was such a shame to move Drew out of defence where he was destined to become All Australian at some stage. I feel the same way about Chom. But if he can be even half as good as Drew as a forward-ruck, then bring on 2025.

 

[Hojuman]

I went to VFL games swapping ends each quarter to watch him play forward, and I'm convinced he could become the Drew Petrie replacement we've been needing since the end of 2016. Playing in defence this year for Chom is the equivalent of Drew's 2006. We needed Drew in defence that year, he acquitted himself brilliantly, but we needed him to go forward the following year, and he was even better. I remember thinking it was such a shame to move Drew out of defence where he was destined to become All Australian at some stage. I feel the same way about Chom. But if he can be even half as good as Drew as a forward-ruck, then bring on 2025.

Once Logue, Dawsons x 2, Hardeman are holding the fort down there and we pray to god Biggy turns into Alir / Andrew / Aleer we can get him forward.

 

[cybercrab]

I went to VFL games swapping ends each quarter to watch him play forward, and I'm convinced he could become the Drew Petrie replacement we've been needing since the end of 2016. Playing in defence this year for Chom is the equivalent of Drew's 2006. We needed Drew in defence that year, he acquitted himself brilliantly, but we needed him to go forward the following year, and he was even better. I remember thinking it was such a shame to move Drew out of defence where he was destined to become All Australian at some stage. I feel the same way about Chom. But if he can be even half as good as Drew as a forward-ruck, then bring on 2025.

I definitely agree, I think he should stay in defence for the rest of the year and then they should reevaluate over pre-season. It would excellent if we could bring in a young KPD like Jedd Busslinger or Leek Aleer to replace him in defence or maybe Wil Dawson will be ready to take his role?

 

[Hatchy1992]

If we can take anything out of this year it's Comben and X
I reckon we keep him down back.