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

[Jumping Roo]

So he is happy to play at VFL level then?

As I said if CCJ comes in this week as the second forward and grabs the opportunity, you then have a player that you are happy to rot away at VFL level?

Why don't people get it that CHOM is playing in VFL to get some match hardening due to his history of multiple bony injuries/fractures before being put into the firsts? Similar story with Tom Powell. We all know both have potential to be great players but are coming back from injury so they need to be eased back in before being smashed around in the firsts.

 

[The acurate one]

If that happens, I give it about 3 days before you’re posting about how p*ssed off Chom is at Noble for not playing him forward.

Nah- doubt that would happen. Can't see Comben being pissed off at that. Not like the other two who have imo grounds for being peeved

 

[Roosurgence]

I’ll never understand why your posting is so f*kn knee jerk. How on earth could you infer from my post that he would rather play VFL than AFL?

He is clearly being developed to be our CHF for the next decade. Not a bad position for a 20 year old to be in, especially given then unknowns on his career over the last few years. Like Larkey did, he will have to do a bit of an internship in the VFL until he’s ready, but as Souv has said himself, it was well worth it.

How many games has Comben even played at VFL level in his entire time at the club? Less then 10?

I can only imagine what else you’d put money on.

You seem to be putting your house on the guy that will most likely be overlooked this weekend.

If he was a lock for our future CHF then there is no doubt he plays this weekend at CHF.

Or are we continuing to cotton wool him forever?

 

[Psicosis]

Nah- doubt that would happen. Can't see Comben being pissed off at that. Not like the other two who have imo grounds for being peeved

No offence TAO, but you’ve had some strike outs the last few months hence my scepticism…

• Doedee JHF trade
• Goldy being dropped dropped last week
• Powell annoyed about something that nearly all second year players go through (being played out of position)

 

[Psicosis]

You seem to be putting your house on the guy that will most likely be overlooked this weekend.

If he was a lock for our future CHF then there is no doubt he plays this weekend at CHF.

Or are we continuing to cotton wool him forever?

Again with the extreme s***.

Given we have no other CHFs and how the club talks him up, I think it’s a safe assumption that they see him as our long term CHF.

Well no, because he’s played how many VFL games? Less then 10? Injured for 3/4 of his time at the club, less continuity then anyone on our list, do I really need to continue justifying something that should make sense. Just because he’s not ready now, doesn’t mean he isn’t our long term CHF.

 

[Roosurgence]

Again with the extreme s***.

Given we have no other CHFs and how the club talks him up, I think it’s a safe assumption that they see him as our long term CHF.

Well no, because he’s played how many VFL games? Less then 10? Injured for 3/4 of his time at the club, less continuity then anyone on our list, do I really need to continue justifying something that should make sense. Just because he’s not ready now, doesn’t mean he isn’t our long term CHF

So we have no CHF yet our long term CHF can’t get a game or he is not ready to replace the CHF we don’t have? I’m not sure which one?

Are you listening to yourself? LOL

Just so I can really understand, we are forgoing playing a CHF so our long term CHF can get continuity in the VFL?

This is such a novel idea, I don’t know why other clubs haven’t thought of it? Most clubs develop players in the VFL because they actually have a player already in that position, at North we just say we don’t need a CHF hahahahaha

The whole continuity argument is such a crock. It’s not as if he playing touch footy at VFL level. If he is fit enough to play at VFL level and is our best option at CHF then he is playing.

I don’t disagree with you that he probably is the best option, but I don’t think the club sees it that way, especially if he is again overlooked in favour of CCJ.

 

[The acurate one]

No offence TAO, but you’ve had some strike outs the last few months hence my scepticism…

• Doedee JHF trade
• Goldy being dropped dropped last week
• Powell annoyed about something that nearly all second year players go through (being played out of position)

No offence is taken.

 

[Psicosis]

So we have no CHF yet our long term CHF can’t get a game or he is not ready to replace the CHF we don’t have? I’m not sure which one?

Are you listening to yourself? LOL

Just so I can really understand, we are forgoing playing a CHF so our long term CHF can get continuity in the VFL?

This is such a novel idea, I don’t know why other clubs haven’t thought of it? Most clubs develop players in the VFL because they actually have a player already in that position, at North we just say we don’t need a CHF hahahahaha

The whole continuity argument is such a crock. It’s not as if he playing touch footy at VFL level. If he is fit enough to play at VFL level and is our best option at CHF then he is playing.

I don’t disagree with you that he probably is the best option, but I don’t think the club sees it that way, especially if he is again overlooked in favour of CCJ.

If a player isn't ready to play consistently at AFL level, they play in the VFL. I have no doubt that Chom will get games at AFL level this year, however I definitely support a cautious approach with him.

We are currently playing Ziebell/Resting Ruckman as a CHF, which is far from ideal however necessary until Chom is ready.

Player development at reserve level happens at every club.

You make something quite simple, sound like rocket science.

 

[Roosurgence]

If a player isn't ready to play consistently at AFL level, they play in the VFL. I have no doubt that Chom will get games at AFL level this year, however I definitely support a cautious approach with him.

We are currently playing Ziebell/Resting Ruckman as a CHF, which is far from ideal however necessary until Chom is ready.

Player development at reserve level happens at every club.

You make something quite simple, sound like rocket science.

Ok answer this question for me?

What is he learning at VFL level that he can’t learn at AFL level?

It can’t be fitness, he has done a preseason and has played enough games now. If Paul Curtis can come into the AFL side with less conditioning, it shouldn’t be an issue for Comben. I’m not sure consistency is an argument given his production at VFL level?

Do you think he is getting any benefit of being at VFL level with the amount of shit ball coming in at him?

Any game at AFL level is more of a development opportunity than playing VFL.

 

[Moti]

The answer that has been overlooked for 6 weeks and will most likely be overlooked again in favour of CCJ.

We might want to actually see him line at AFL level before proclaiming he is the answer?

Can you imagine if they had left Tarrant as a forward? We would have had an average forward instead of an AA calibre KPD.

Do we lose anything by trying? He will either suck at it or give us an option going forward.

Tarrant played forward for an extended period and developed concrete hands. Happy to try Comben back once he has similar exposure and fails.

 

[shintemaster]

Ok answer this question for me?

What is he learning at VFL level that he can’t learn at AFL level?

It can’t be fitness, he has done a preseason and has played enough games now. If Paul Curtis can come into the AFL side with less conditioning, it shouldn’t be an issue for Comben. I’m not sure consistency is an argument given his production at VFL level?

Do you think he is getting any benefit of being at VFL level with the amount of shit ball coming in at him?

Any game at AFL level is more of a development opportunity than playing VFL.

He has time. Reality is that Paul Curtis won't need to stand in front of 100kg + senior players contest after contest. If he stays fit and can't get in the team by mid year we should rightly ask questions - for mine he will be in before then if still fit. As promising as Curtis looks we have a lot of our future riding on Comben. He is a blue chip 10 year bookend who is barely 20 years old. Patience. We need him going strong in 3 years, not 3 days.

I'd happily play him this week if ready but that's not a call I'm willing to make from the outside in - you have to trust them on this. We have a huge stake in this kid and the last thing he needs is another missed season.

 

[Merlin007]

Tarrant played forward for an extended period and developed concrete hands. Happy to try Comben back once he has similar exposure and fails.

Charlie's already taking F50 pack marks that were never Taz's specialty; Robbie went back for good reason

 

[Merlin007]

If a player isn't ready to play consistently at AFL level, they play in the VFL. I have no doubt that Chom will get games at AFL level this year, however I definitely support a cautious approach with him.

We are currently playing Ziebell/Resting Ruckman as a CHF, which is far from ideal however necessary until Chom is ready.

Player development at reserve level happens at every club.

You make something quite simple, sound like rocket science.

But, but
There's gotta be
A short cut ...

Think about it, there's a riff in that

 

[Psicosis]

Ok answer this question for me?

What is he learning at VFL level that he can’t learn at AFL level?

It can’t be fitness, he has done a preseason and has played enough games now. If Paul Curtis can come into the AFL side with less conditioning, it shouldn’t be an issue for Comben. I’m not sure consistency is an argument given his production at VFL level?

Do you think he is getting any benefit of being at VFL level with the amount of shit ball coming in at him?

Any game at AFL level is more of a development opportunity than playing VFL.

He isn’t playing AFL because his body has not proven that it can hold up consistently to handle VFL level, let alone AFL level.

I’ll assume from the ignorance in your posting that you don’t know the difference between AFL and VFL. The running capacity required, the strength of opposition (particularly key defenders), the intensity. It is a significant step up from VFL physically.

For a guy that has only just now been able to string a handful of VFL games together, after various serious injuries that could hurt his career long term if not managed correctly, you would have to be seriously out of touch with reality to not support the club taking a cautious approach.

 

[Jasemon]

After a long hiatus from big footy, due to legal reasons I don’t want to get into on here. Let’s just say, Brad Scott’s nan had made herself a very powerful enemy.

But on my return, I’ve decided to hitch my wagon to Chom. From now on my whole football life will revolve around him and will defend him until he is delisted Keira’s Harper style. The end.

No idea WTF you just wrote but you just got my early vote for POTY lol.

 

[TheBigHorne]

All for playing players where they are suited best but seriously, what harm could giving Chom a couple games down back do? It doesn't work? Ok cool just move him back experiment failed and over, still set to be a good forward prospect. If it works, cool, we just found a good tall defender.

 

[Le Grille]

All for playing players where they are suited best but seriously, what harm could giving Chom a couple games down back do? It doesn't work? Ok cool just move him back experiment failed and over, still set to be a good forward prospect. If it works, cool, we just found a good tall defender.

The reason he’s not playing afl is his body.

That doesn’t alleviate if he goes back.

He is a forward don’t mess with that, he’s playing well in the vfl there. I wouldn’t bring someone who hasn’t played a second of kpd and whack him down back in the afl.

Would be disastrous for his development

 

[TheBigHorne]

The reason he’s not playing afl is his body.

That doesn’t alleviate if he goes back.

He is a forward don’t mess with that, he’s playing well in the vfl there. I wouldn’t bring someone who hasn’t played a second of kpd and whack him down back in the afl.

Would be disastrous for his development

I didn't say anything about him playing AFL

I'd run the trial in the VFL to see if it works if you wanted clarity on that

 

[Le Grille]

I didn't say anything about him playing AFL

I'd run the trial in the VFL to see if it works if you wanted clarity on that

Sorry I was playing both sides of the coin

He’s been playing well as a fwd at vfl level, probably one of few promising lights this season. I wouldn’t mess with it.

By the time he’d be good to come in as a key back hopefully we’d have some one else to plug in there

 

[Devington]

I'm in the "don't fix what aint broken" camp. The biggest thing he lacks is continuity, due to his body cracking under the strain repeatedly, so I'm not at all interested in messing with what little form or confidence he might already have by suddenly changing his position. If he has an extended patch where his forwardcraft is subpar (outside of external factors like the team he's in being shit) then maybe we look at it, but right now I think the big lump of a lad just needs a clear, simple, and uninterrupted path forward.

 

[Ether]

He isn’t playing AFL because his body has not proven that it can hold up consistently to handle VFL level, let alone AFL level.

I’ll assume from the ignorance in your posting that you don’t know the difference between AFL and VFL. The running capacity required, the strength of opposition (particularly key defenders), the intensity. It is a significant step up from VFL physically.

For a guy that has only just now been able to string a handful of VFL games together, after various serious injuries that could hurt his career long term if not managed correctly, you would have to be seriously out of touch with reality to not support the club taking a cautious approach.

Agree and would add that AFL is quicker so the impacts are bigger, which is where his past injuries are mostly from. I'd love to see him in the ones but imagine the melts if they brought him back and he broke down.

 

[King Corey]

Don't have a huge problem holding Charlie in the VFL if it's part of a structured loading program, which it appears to be.

Nek minnit called up.

 

[Le Grille]

Don't have a huge problem holding Charlie in the VFL if it's part of a structured loading program, which it appears to be.

Nek minnit called up.

The dude could still hide behind the goal posts, I get the excitement but everyone needs to cool the jets.

 

[blackshadow]

you've posted a lot of absolute rubbish

Fixed. It applies to 99.23% of his posts.

 

[Mjs94]

Not against the idea of him playing as a CHB as I imagine he would do well. But, he has been training since drafted as a forward, played VFL as a forward, did ok in his AFL debut as a forward. He should get a go as a forward at least initially. If it doesn't work out or in the future two of CCJ/X/Edwards works then he can be pushed back.