Former Western Bulldog Robbie McComb has joined the SFNL

Former Western Bulldog Robbie McComb has returned to local footy full time. He talks about his decision, his exit from the top level and what he hopes to achieve at his new club.

MELBOURNE - APRIL 08: Robbie McComb of the Bulldogs celebrates a goal during the 2023 AFL Round 04 match between the Richmond Tigers and the Western Bulldogs at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on April 8, 2023 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

He’ll remain in red and blue.

Former Western Bulldog Robbie McComb has stepped away from VFL to join Southern league power Port Melbourne Colts.

McComb, who played 18 AFL games and won a VFL best and fairest, will join brother Luke at JL Murphy Reserve.

The Colts was also the home of former AFL men Michael Hibberd, Tom Bellchambers, Josh Caddy and Dane Swan at the end of 2024.

McComb watched the Colts at every opportunity he could this year and liked what he saw.

“I know a few of the boys from going down and watching Luke, it seems like a really good club, the boys get around each other,” he said.

“I know Charlie Clark from the Dogs has a connection there as well.

“Luke loves it down at the Colts and I just wanted to play with him so that was the deciding factor I think.”

Robbie McComb. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

The reuniting of the McCombs was always a matter of when rather than if.

But Robbie waited until his AFL door was officially closed before returning to local footy.

He signed at VFL giant Port Melbourne in a bid to return back to AFL level after being delisted by the Dogs at the end of 2023.

Injuries hindered McComb’s 2024 and they led to him committing to the Colts.

“I think that first year out of the system everything has to go your way and I had a few injuries and missed a lot of the season,” he said.

“It wasn’t ideal but it sort of confirmed or it was easier to accept that it was over and I could just relax a bit.

“So now I am looking forward to having a bit more fun playing footy and playing with my brother.”

McComb is no stranger to playing in successful local footy sides, winning two Eastern league premierships at Vermont.

He has hopes of reaching the premiership dais again.

“There’s nothing better than winning a flag, it’s the best feeling in the world and I want to go back and do it again,” he said.

McComb playing for Vermont in 2016. Picture: Christopher Chan.

“It sounds like we’re going to have a pretty good side down there which is good.”

McComb, 28, has recovered from the injuries which ruined his 2024 and is confident in the footy he can produce.

“The body is all good; the main one was the ankle, I did ligaments and a bit of tendon stuff, I had a little hip and then fractured my hand at the end of the season,” he said.

“That was a bit annoying – play one, miss two, play two, miss three, it was a bit like that.

“I think I am definitely in that prime, I was fit as this pre-season going into this year and the body is fine, I can cover as much of the ground as I could at 25 (years old at the Dogs)

“I can still train and recover well so I think I have some good footy left for sure.”

Luke McComb made the Southern league Division 1 team of the year in his first campaign at the Colts.

But when asked about helping his brother out on field, Robbie joked “I might just run past and get the handball”.