Geelong physiotherapist Travis McCombe tragically dies from from medical episode, aged 53
Renowned Geelong physio Travis McCombe tragically died from a medical episode in Papua New Guinea hours before the draft. The career of crowned No.1 pick Sam Lalor will form part of his legacy.
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As top draft prospect Sam Lalor was preparing to be taken by Richmond with the No. 1 pick on Wednesday, he was dealing with immeasurable grief.
The man who had been so crucial in getting Lalor to that position, his physiotherapist at Geelong Grammar, Travis McCombe — tragically passed away after a medical episode on his 53rd birthday on Tuesday.
McCombe had been leading a travel tour to Papua New Guinea – the country he spent the first 12 years of his life and has treasured ever since.
He collapsed in the water on a remote island after experiencing what he thought was just chest and shoulder pain.
McCombe was rushed to the mainland and unfortunately could not be revived.
He is survived by sons Finn and Marley, daughter Sammy and wife Kelli, who travelled to Papua New Guniea on Thursday to have him repatriated.
Kelli said their family and the wider community have been left devastated.
“They just couldn’t bring him back, so he passed away there. It was his birthday, he was turning 53 and where his body lays now is the hospital he was born in,” Kelli said.
“We take comfort at the moment in that full circle that he has just turned and that he was in the place that he loved but we are just devastated because he was a fit man, he was passionate about everything, he was clever and kind.
“He just had so many things that he was good at and interested in and he just died 40 years too early.
“If I had’ve said to him, ‘How do you want to end up?’ This situation would be his ideal situation, in his 90s. But not in his 50s.
“It is just a big loss to the community, a big loss to us as a family and we have heard from so many people that we barely know that he was close to, just because of the diverse contacts and he just had time for everyone. It didn’t matter how busy he was, he would just stop and he would make time for you.”
McCombe was a renowned figure in the Geelong community, voted as Geelong’s number one physio by this publication.
His work with Lalor sums up his selfless nature and the impact he had on people as a physiotherapist.
He has worked with a host of sports people in the past, spending a season with Geelong in 2008 and also working as a strength and conditioning coach with Port Adelaide.
McCombe had been one of the three most important people Lalor leaned on throughout his draft year, helping him through a string of injuries to his knee, hip, ankle, quad and hamstring.
But in a cruel twist of fate, McCombe never heard his name called.
His son Marley, who played school football with Lalor in the same year level at Geelong Grammar, said the new Tiger was distraught after hearing the news.
Lalor was in contact with the family before his AFL dream became a reality.
“(Sam) talked to me (on Wednesday), said he’d come and see me tomorrow but obviously he can’t because we’re going away,” McCombe’s youngest son Marley said.
“He appreciates what dad’s done for him, he was pretty upset. I didn’t want it to let it ruin his night, you know.
“My dad loved helping him out, I think he knew he was going to get picked up, but it’s just pretty unfortunate that dad doesn’t get to see it happen.”
Marley said his father would be beaming with pride seeing Lalor taken at pick one.
“He’d be really proud, he loved Sammy, he was just like a mate as well – not just a physio,” Marley said.
“Sammy won’t forget him, Trav is someone you remember. He had a pretty big impact on him, but I think Sammy will do him proud.”
Lalor wasn’t the only AFL draft prospect McCombe has helped during his time with the school.
West Coast youngster Noah Long had a string of injuries in his draft year in 2022, and Geelong Grammar football director Troy Selwood believes he wouldn’t have got his AFL opportunity without McCombe.
“Trav just invested a huge amount of time into Noah, right throughout the course of the year and got him into a position to perform in the back half of the season,” Selwood said.
“And there is no doubt in my mind that without Trav McCombe, Noah Long probably doesn’t get drafted and now the rest is history.
“Noah has been able to take that opportunity with both hands and do a fantastic job at the Eagles. To help him get that foot in the door, it wouldn’t have happened without Travis McCombe.”
Even when McCombe wasn’t a paid employee at the school, he would regularly set up his physio table while watching his sons Finn and Marley play and volunteer to whoever needed help.
Watching Lalor get drafted on Wednesday provided some much-needed joy for the Geelong Grammar sports community which remains in mourning for their beloved physio and friend.
“We all needed last night to have some positivity after such a tough 24 hours and Sam’s story is super inspiring for all our students at the school,” Selwood said.
“He has had a massive part in a lot of boys becoming the best they can be and he has helped kids get drafted, whether it be Sam Lalor, whether it be Ollie Hollands, whether it be Noah Long.
“And he is going to have a legacy where boys currently at this school are going to be so better prepared for what is to come in life and with their sporting journeys because they have had Trav McCombe help guide and mentor them.”
TRAV’S LEGACY
The legacy of Travis McCombe is much more significant than helping a few young talents enter the AFL ranks.
“He really has three (legacies): he has the children, he has PNG and he has the business that he is so proud and so passionate about,” Kelli said.
“He was an artistic, kind, gentle, stoic man. He had so much time for people, he always put people first, he was always involved in things.”
His clients at Belmont Physiotherapy Centre, where his daughter Sammy has worked for the past year, have kept coming back.
“He used to say to me, ‘I’d see the kids when they were little and then I’d see them when they’re older in their teenage years and now they’re adults and they’re going off and doing things’,” Kelli recalls.
“He said he had generations of families go through since 2010 and he just never lost his passion for any of those things. It is just such a shame that he is gone, because he just brought so much to a lot of people.
“We’d really like for people to continue to come into the practice and support our business moving forward for his legacy.”
Sammy’s relationship with her dad became stronger while working alongside him.
“Since then we have become really close, he has always been really keen to catch up with me and I’ve moved out of home about a year ago,” Sammy said.
“I only really saw him at work or not as much as I would have liked to, so he was always trying to catch up with me and make the most of the little spare time he had.”
Finn and Marley bonded with their dad through sport in particular, with both brothers going on to earn sports scholarships at Geelong Grammar.
“He coached cricket for three or four years and Marley’s footy for two years when we were in the middle of our teens and that meant the world and that creates a really special bond,” Finn said.
“He just had time for everyone and for such a fit man it is such a devastating way to go. He meant the world to us, he is just so kind and generous. It is going to be tough.”
“Even just little niggles I have he is helping out and then as a dad just so generous, he is just so passionate about everything. Just loved all his hobbies,” Marley added.
McCombe had a broad range of friends and passions, loving sport, photography, fitness and art.
But perhaps his greatest love of all was showing people his home country of Papua New Guinea, where his parents worked as teachers while he was growing up.
He showcased his extensive knowledge of the region to The Best Ever Food Review Show, which has 11 million subscribers on YouTube.
FINAL MOMENTS
Sammy was the last person to speak to McCombe.
On a Facetime call, McCombe gave his daughter a tour of the remote island he was staying at.
“He was just so happy, he was just so happy,” Sammy said.
“He showed me the water, it was just pristine and it was just his dream.
“I could just tell he was so proud of me, the way he was introducing me to people and just the way he was speaking about all of us, you could just tell he was really missing us and really looking forward to the future.”
A seemingly healthy man, McCombe tragic heart attack comes with a chilling warning which Kelli hopes people will take on.
“If I’m honest about his health he was a fit man, but he didn’t like going to the doctor,” Kelli said.
“I’d pester him about it and I’d have to book him in for things and he was due to go back to the doctor to have a general check-up.
“If there is anything we can do to turn back time and get him in there and get him checked.”
Originally published as Geelong physiotherapist Travis McCombe tragically dies from from medical episode, aged 53
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