A CAREER forged in fire aptly captures North Melbourne defender Charlie Comben’s journey at the highest level.
With all the promise Comben was drafted with as a tall forward at pick 31 in the 2019 draft, the footballer’s career thus far has been interrupted by injury, including an ankle injury seven games into last season. That injury sidelined him until his return in round 4 this season.
He told AFL.com.au in April that he’s broken at least 23 bones. Before he turned 18, the footballer had missed time on the field after breaking his wrist, then his collar bone, then two parts of his inner cheekbone, then a broken tibia and a fractured and dislocated kneecap.
Comben’s bad luck with injuries didn’t end in juniors, testing his resilience to the limit and shaping him into who he is today. While years of setbacks played a part, he credits his ingrained toughness to his mother, Vivien.
“She raised my brother and I as a single mum for a lot of our upbringing. So that’s (resilience) something I really bring back to mum and that’s a core value I’ve always taken from her,” he told the Gippsland Times in August.
After frustrating setbacks, the resilient Roo said he was optimistic about the future and eager to make his mark as a leader.
“I recently just signed on another two-year extension to North Melbourne… It’s weird, I’m 23, but I’m probably seen as one of the older boys in the football club now, so I’ve got a big responsibility to lead some of the younger boys and show them what’s required to play AFL football every day,” he said.
Comben was picked up by North Melbourne as a tall forward. This year, he transitioned to the backline, injecting it with height and intercept marking ability. He averaged an impressive 3.2 intercept marks per game.
Comben said he worked closely with North Melbourne’s defensive line coach Jed Adcock and head coach Alistair Clarkson to develop his game.
“I went to a lot of games to watch other backline players and kind of study them and try to implement that into my own game to start the year,” he said.
Six of his top seven career performances came this season, including his best top three. These include a game against Brisbane in round four which he finished with 25 disposals and eight marks. In a winning round 21 match against Richmond, Comben had 22 disposals and nine marks.
Of 28 career games, Comben played 19 this season. He said this consistency was a step towards repaying the club’s loyalty.
“I’m just really excited all those injuries are behind me now, and I’ve been able to get a full year of football out (there). And I’m also excited for the future. I was able to string some good footy together this year, but that’s only one year of many.
“If we’re going to propel the football club forward to where we want to get to, which is silverware, it’s going to take a lot more than one good year of footy,” he said.
Comben is one of Gippsland’s many AFL exports who’s realising and living out a childhood passion. He has strong ties to Sale, where he attended school and played football, and Briagolong, where relatives reside. He said playing against stars he watched growing up, like Dustin Martin who he lined up against about a month ago, can be surreal.
“I remember what it was like as a kid growing up in Sale and idolising these figures that play AFL… But at some point, there’s got to be a realisation that you belong out there as well,” he said.
Comben could not finish the home and away season after being ruled out of North Melbourne’s final-round clash against Hawthorn with a concussion he sustained in a previous loss to the Western Bulldogs. He might have finished the season relatively unimpeded, but Comben said his injury experiences remind him just how fickle a career in the AFL can be.
He said players accepted injury risks every time they ran out on to the field and that they must put their bodies on the line. And this is how he recalled the passage of play that resulted in that concussion.
“I probably didn’t start the game very well,” he said.
“I dropped a chest mark about five minutes earlier and (then when I) saw the ball go over my head I thought ‘I probably have to have to go for this one’.
“Unfortunately, I was in the firing line (and) I got a shoulder to my head and a slight concussion from that, but I feel pretty good now,” he said.
“I think everyone accepts that there’s a slight risk that you might get injured when you run out on the field, but those slight risks are far outweighed by the positives. You get friendship, community, that winning feeling of playing football.”
Comben’s off-season began with shoulder surgery last week, followed by four weeks of intensive rehab and training. He’ll enjoy downtime after that when he travels around Europe.
“We still train while we’re overseas, but it’s really important to get a mental break as well as the physical. So I’ll come back from that trip feeling refreshed, mentally ready to attack another big year,” he said.
Other ways he disconnects from footy include dabbling in film photography, which he shares on Instagram under the handle @chomflicks.
“I’ve got a real interest in film photography, which I’ve been able to marry up with my love for the outdoors.
“I’ve always been really outdoorsy person. I’ve always enjoyed going to the water (and) spending time at the beach (and) swimming spots. Dad always brought us up on boats, we’ve spent a lot of time boating, so there’s all that outdoorsy stuff I really enjoy, and that kind of lends itself to photography,” he said.
“I’m also a bit of a music-head. I love going to music gigs and concerts, and living in Melbourne provides a real opportunity to do that. So, both those things are something I look to explore when I go overseas and travel.”
