Player Watch #30: Charlie Comben - signed til end '27

[North1411]

i thought playing 3 talls ruins the structure? now we're all for playing 3 talls just because a guy plays well in the VFL.

Also, its not just a matter of which playing structure is best. If you play one forward and two rucks, two forwards and one ruck or two forwards and two rucks, its a matter of how you set up the team around it. There are many clubs who provide great pressure and are very effective, playing with very tall set ups, as they play to their strengths and encourage others to cover the weakness of the tall players.

 

[Val Keating]

We played 3 ruckmen, not 3 talls.

I reckon it'll be Curtis this week and then Chom 1-2 weeks after. I'm all for sooner though.

Maybe

We played 3 ruckmen, not 3 talls.

I reckon it'll be Curtis this week and then Chom 1-2 weeks after. I'm all for sooner though.

Maybe but imo they’re considering bringing him in because he was training with the small group of forwards today at training. CCJ, Xerri, Goldy weren’t part of that group. Get him in while his conference is up.

 

[shintemaster]

Maybe


Maybe but imo they’re considering bringing him in because he was training with the small group of forwards today at training. CCJ, Xerri, Goldy weren’t part of that group. Get him in while his conference is up.

I hope so personally. We could use a bit of brass balls at selection to mix things up.

 

[Val Keating]

I hope so personally. We could use a bit of brass balls at selection to mix things up.

Got nothing to lose really. I just really don’t like the Xerri/Goldy combo.

 

[shintemaster]

Got nothing to lose really. I just really don’t like the Xerri/Goldy combo.

Yeah. I don't love it either. I don't have an issue with 2 genuine rucks playing ruck roles that relieve each other, but we're not really doing that. We're hiding Goldy in the forward line to give more time to X. Kinda figure just be done with it either way. If we want Larkey & another KPF then that is what we should play.

As much as we all argue that a single young player won't change everything there is an argument for structure and types IMO. Fundamentally having a hard running lead up KPF who will sit on your head if you don't respect him is a different target to a 35 year old ruck who relies on a mismatch and experience to outmark on his chest the opponent.

 

[Val Keating]

Yeah. I don't love it either. I don't have an issue with 2 genuine rucks playing ruck roles that relieve each other, but we're not really doing that. We're hiding Goldy in the forward line to give more time to X. Kinda figure just be done with it either way. If we want Larkey & another KPF then that is what we should play.

As much as we all argue that a single young player won't change everything there is an argument for structure and types IMO. Fundamentally having a hard running lead up KPF who will sit on your head if you don't respect him is a different target to a 35 year old ruck who relies on a mismatch and experience to outmark on his chest the opponent.

Exactly. Goldy traditionally gets his looks at goal by floating over close to goal.

 

[Val Keating]

Also, its not just a matter of which playing structure is best. If you play one forward and two rucks, two forwards and one ruck or two forwards and two rucks, its a matter of how you set up the team around it. There are many clubs who provide great pressure and are very effective, playing with very tall set ups, as they play to their strengths and encourage others to cover the weakness of the tall players.

The thing is those teams have seasoned mids that can cover the extra workload. We don’t.

 

[North1411]

The thing is those teams have seasoned mids that can cover the extra workload. We don’t.

I agree, but how do you develop that midfield and team? Not saying I have the answer but at what point do you accept short term pain to teach and develop the midfield to play the way you want them to, or do you play, teach and develop a different structure and system for now and swap it it latter?

 

[Val Keating]

I agree, but how do you develop that midfield and team? Not saying I have the answer but at what point do you accept short term pain to teach and develop the midfield to play the way you want them to, or do you play, teach and develop a different structure and system for now and swap it it latter?

If I knew the answer to that I’d be a coach

 

[TennisPlayerAndy]

Well I cant speak for anyone else but I'm in favour of him coming in for Goldy if we're going to continue to insist on Goldy playing as a KPF

I’m in favour of bringing in KPF’s who are actually KPF’s.

And aggressive, agile ones at that.

 

[TennisPlayerAndy]

Get him in.

The coaches have to make the tough call between Goldy and X because it’s not working and very costly.

Playing a non-flexible ruckman as a KPF is suicide.

Need we need to be reminded of the Tom Campbell debacle?

 

[North1411]

If I knew the answer to that I’d be a coach

Probably wouldn't hurt to give it 3 weeks to see how it goes once they think he is ready

 

[Roosurgence]

This bloke must be scratching his head as to what he needs to do to get a game?

CCJ selected in front of him is a massive pisstake.

 

[Jasemon]

This bloke must be scratching his head as to what he needs to do to get a game?

CCJ selected in front of him is a massive pisstake.

Agreed. From what I've read and seen a couple of weeks ago CCJ has not been lighting up the VFL in any way whatsoever. Been fairly average really.
Chom on the other hand has been doing everything asked. Kicking goals, crashing parks, contested marks, racking up possessions and running out games. He has the agility that none of our our talls have. I can't think of a reason NOT to play him actually.

I'm fairly sure, or maybe it's just those voices in my head again, that someone on this forum said a few weeks ago that they'd overheard him a few weeks ago on the sidelines say that he'd been told by the club that they wouldn't play him until at least round 5 as they wanted to get some loading into him.
Well this is now round 6 and so yeah I'm a little confused, as based on form he should be named on that extended interchange bench. Maybe just one more week in the VFL then bring him in for Marvel against the easy beat Blues.

 

[Liam Boy]

CCJ is clearly the emergency they don't plan to play, just in case Goldy, X or Larkey get injured. They're not picking him over Comben. Obviously they want Charlie to get continuity in the VFL before they recall him, considering his injury history it seems like a good idea.

 

[Errol Street]

People were saying the same thing about Larkey when he was in the VFL. Patience.


Sent from my iPhone using BigFooty.com

 

[AnEmptyChair]

CCJ is clearly the emergency they don't plan to play, just in case Goldy, X or Larkey get injured. They're not picking him over Comben. Obviously they want Charlie to get continuity in the VFL before they recall him, considering his injury history it seems like a good idea.

Re your post in the other thread, what ages you think he's more likely to get injured in the AFL than VFL? Surely if he's fit enough for a full game in tge 2s, it stands to reason he's fit enough for a full game in the seniors

 

[Liam Boy]

Re your post in the other thread, what ages you think he's more likely to get injured in the AFL than VFL? Surely if he's fit enough for a full game in tge 2s, it stands to reason he's fit enough for a full game in the seniors

AFL key defenders are much bigger and tougher than VFL ones. His last injury was a bone break and they won't want him getting smacked in pack marking contests and breaking something again. Obviously there's a degree of risk they will have to accept eventually, but now isn't the time to be rushing guys in for a positional need. Staying in the VFL longer than you need to worked for Nick Larkey, I don't have a problem with it. Playing 2s isn't the terrible embarrassment it looks like to an outsider, these guys are professionals and they'll play at the level they're asked to. if Chom cops another long term injury without being able to put together over a month of footy, that would be far, far more disheartening than not getting picked for one game, and possibly career-ruining.

 

[koshari]

if Chom cops another long term injury without being able to put together over a month of footy, that would be far, far more disheartening than not getting picked for one game, and possibly career-ruining.

You would prolly have to cut him, lists are to small to carry perennially injured players. We learned a harsh lesson with Taylor garner among others.

 

[Mr north man]

Nice long goal to start the night against Frankston but VFL like the AFL look slow

 

[SammyRoo]

Like Larkey… a victim tonight of the stella North game plan of the just bomb into the forward line.

Default action when a team have zero game plan

 

[Souup]

Like Larkey… a victim tonight of the stella North game plan of the just bomb into the forward line.

Default action when a team have zero game plan

The issue isn't necessarily the bomb into the forward line.

It's a bomb into the forward line to Chom vs 3 defenders with no sign of a crumber within 25m of the contest. The opposition often waltzes out of their defensive 50m under almost no pressure.

Same thing happens often at AFL level - makes you wonder where our numbers are and why we don't make the most of them with our ball movement if the opposition have a couple of spares in defense.

 

[FootySmartSimpson]

Our lack of structure across HF and our lack of general fitness often makes it seem like we are playing with 5 fewer players each game.

It shits me to tears.

 

[the flying ham]

The issue isn't necessarily the bomb into the forward line.

It's a bomb into the forward line to Chom vs 3 defenders with no sign of a crumber within 25m of the contest. The opposition often waltzes out of their defensive 50m under almost no pressure.

Same thing happens often at AFL level - makes you wonder where our numbers are and why we don't make the most of them with our ball movement if the opposition have a couple of spares in defense.

One thing is obvious though and that is he contests his guts out, flies for everything then tries to affect the ground ball. Victim of what was happening up the ground, sounds familiar

 

[Roosurgence]

Most likely gets a week off knowing our luck.

Great management by the North brains trust to give him that extra week in VFL.