Player Watch #30: Charlie Comben - defender or forward? re-signed until end of 2027

[The Nostradamus]

Play him loose or play him fwd.

For the love of God, don't play him 1v1 defensively...

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This

Someone let the coaches know

Despite his height he is best used as the third tall defender just like how we used Majak in that role

 

[Roosurgence]

This

Someone let the coaches know

Despite his height he is best used as the third tall defender just like how we used Majak in that role

Or maybe an novel idea might be to drop him until he can play at the level instead of trying to create a role because he is too stupid to defend?

 

[Junk yard]

Was never a defender, looks completely lost.

 

[The Nostradamus]

Or maybe a novel idea might be to drop him until he can play at the level instead of trying to create a role because he is too stupid to defend?

Not really creating a role

Logue was allowed to be the third tall last night

Just got to switch it to make Logue lock down on a KPF and chom play third tall

 

[Roosurgence]

Not really creating a role

Logue was allowed to be the third tall last night

Is Comben even smart enough to play as the third tall?

The third tall role takes a smart player with some brains on positioning and the ability to read the play. Not exactly Charlie’s strong suit.

 

[The Nostradamus]

Is Comben even smart enough to play as the third tall?

The third tall role takes a smart player with some brains on positioning and the ability to read the play. Not exactly Charlie’s strong suit.

He’s a good intercept player and top 4 last year from when he came into the team statistically across the league

So yes he can

 

[Caracas]

My overarching impression of Charlie right now is that he’s trying too hard. Clarko is asking him to do different things and it’s a struggle for him. Hopefully, Logue is OK and the backline gets an opportunity to settle. Was last night the first time Logue, Corr and Comben played there together? They need time to gel. Charles needs to chill to be in charge.

 

[roo blitz]

Another wasted talent at the moment who dosnt seem to improve under our system for what ever reason. There is a bunch of our players that never go to another level. Other teams they just seem to fall out of a hat and develop so much quicker. I'm sure at another club he would develop quicker and probably be a star. its just the cycle we are in

 

[Possession]

Another wasted talent at the moment who dosnt seem to improve under our system for what ever reason. There is a bunch of our players that never go to another level. Other teams they just seem to fall out of a hat and develop so much quicker. I'm sure at another club he would develop quicker and probably be a star. its just the cycle we are in

We've created a situation where we have a young key forward who can't fit into the forward line and thus his only place on the field is as an awful key defender. How?

 

[Themanbun]

It's giving an angrier Ben McKay lol

 

[kool kangas]

We've created a situation where we have a young key forward who can't fit into the forward line and thus his only place on the field is as an awful key defender. How?

because Whitlock, Goater and W.Dawson are either injured or not ready yet...

He'll end up as Magoo Mk2 very quickly if he doesn't improve.

Maley, Teakle are others wanting that 3rd tall forward position if we ever decide to play it...

 

[R00StaR]

We've created a situation where we have a young key forward who can't fit into the forward line and thus his only place on the field is as an awful key defender. How?

Poor set shot and breaks when playing forward?

 

[Possession]

Poor set shot and breaks when playing forward?

Would prefer he develop his forward craft in the VFL than be a liability in the backline.

 

[Roosurgence]

We've created a situation where we have a young key forward who can't fit into the forward line and thus his only place on the field is as an awful key defender. How?

We haven’t created anything.

He has shown he didn’t have the body to hold up playing as a crash the pack forward and now he’s shown limited ability to play down back.

This is all on Comben. Learn to play or kick the dew off at Arden St.

He has been given games on the back of his athletic ability, but is getting shown up as not having the smarts to play at AFL level.

I saw more smarts in a intraclub from a first year player in Whitlock than I have seen from Charlie’s entire career.

He will want to figure it out quickly because when and if these guys come on he might find himself off the list if he keeps putting in efforts like last night.

 

[Roosurgence]

Would prefer he develop his forward craft in the VFL than be a liability in the backline.

It’s probably the next logical step.

He isn’t helping the team or himself in his current form. His preaseason form showed how lost he looks.

 

[fusion]

Poor set shot and breaks when playing forward?

He's a poor kick. I think he's more naturally suited as a forward, who may be able to compete for contested pack marks, or at least bring the ball to ground, so the opposition aren't taken yet another uncontested intercept mark.

However, I've yet to see him improve set shots, and his field kicking when in the backline isn't great either. The 15 m chip kick laterally are just asking to be intercepted. McKercher dropped one yesterday, but why did Comben kick sidewards 15 m to a player who has no aerial game?

Comben looked lost on the field yesterday, but our structure didn't help. Dogs are a difficult team for us to match up on, as they have Darcy who is too tall for everyone, and a mobile Naughton. Add in Weightman, as we can't stop small forwards, and it's 3 players we can't defend.

 

[R00StaR]

It’s probably the next logical step.

He isn’t helping the team or himself in his current form. His preaseason form showed how lost he looks.

Im not going to be too rough on him for last night, Darcy is a huge assignment and was probably our best option for him. Nudged out too easy a few times yes, a turn over or two yes but not the role he's used to. Praccy matches looked to me as he was having to be accountable as well, being drawn away from intercept range.

Perhaps when Darling is done his body/ smarts are more up for playing forward/ second ruck. Not writing him off yet but not the greatest start to the year agreed.

 

[koshari]

I know you are a fan, but Pink is very limited. I’d rather just pump games into Dawson or Whitlock.

sure pinks limited however he is ready now, the other 2 are likely the future but are not ready now. Combin really stank it up.

 

[fusion]

Im not going to be too rough on him for last night, Darcy is a huge assignment and was probably our best option for him. Nudged out too easy a few times yes, a turn over or two yes but not the role he's used to. Praccy matches looked to me as he was having to be accountable as well, being drawn away from intercept range.

Perhaps when Darling is done his body/ smarts are more up for playing forward/ second ruck. Not righting him off yet but not the greatest start to the year agreed.

Darcy could be a top 5 player in the competition. With his height and mobility, it's hard for anyone to match him. Chom tried playing back shoulder, but the dogs kicking was excellent - putting the ball out in front, and it's impossible for any defender to spoil.

He'll never leave the Dogs, but I said previously that someone should be throwing $1.5M+ a season for him, to try to lure him, or at least force the Dogs to pay him $1M+. He signed a 4 year extension last year, but the Saints (and maybe us) should have gone really hard.

 

[BlueandWhiteinmyBlood]

Wasn’t used the right way last night. Honestly feel he was all we had for even a slight resemblance of a match up on Darcy so we just had to use him that way out of necessity. Next week or going forward, I think we will see him play more McGovern like instead of a one on one defender.

 

[archereleven]

If we can't use players to their strengths, then what are coaches being paid for?

Chom has elite intercepting ability, we've already seen it, but the brains trust have decided to play him in a role he struggles to grasp.

He is a see ball, get ball player. End of, but the coaches are happy to hurt the team playing him oop instead of in the 2s.

Go figure.

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[king rising]

What has happened to him? Had such high hopes, thought he was verging on star status. Some of the errors he makes by foot though, woweee

 

[Junk yard]

What has happened to him? Had such high hopes, thought he was verging on star status. Some of the errors he makes by foot though, woweee

He can't defend. Looks completely lost, needs to move forward ASAP.

 

[Possession]

What has happened to him? Had such high hopes, thought he was verging on star status. Some of the errors he makes by foot though, woweee

Confidence is shot to hell.

 

[roos_fanatic08]

Not hearing good things regarding the ankle. Might be an extended stint on the sidelines for him.