North Melbourne overlooks Charlie Comben and Flynn Perez’s injury setbacks to draft talented duo
North Melbourne has shown faith in a player it had rated one of the best in Australia before he tore his ACL, drafting Bendigo’s Flynn Perez. He’s not the only talent with an injury history the Roos have taken a punt on.
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They are the banged-up buddies living 400km apart who are set to meet halfway at Arden St.
Vic Country pair Charlie Comben (Sale) and Flynn Perez (Bendigo) were drafted by North Melbourne despite spending about as much time in hospitals as on the football field in recent years.
It’s hard not to shudder just listening to Comben’s journey. Three years ago the key forward broke a wrist and then a collarbone.
Two years ago and Comben shattered his cheekbone and then last year a basketball mishap left the 199cm target with a broken tibia and a fractured kneecap, which was also dislocated.
Ouch.
They were the breaks Comben didn’t need. Last night came the break he did need, when North pounced at No. 31.
“We’ve been in a similar position with injury stuff,” Perez told the Herald Sun.
“I didn’t meet him until this year at Vic Country but a great kid, really lively and a great character. I’m really happy we’re at North together.”
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Comben – a great contested mark – will learn under Todd Goldstein as an athletic big man. North recruiter Mark Finnigan said that he wasn’t on the club’s draft board 12 months ago.
But after a booming season – where he went from local footy to the MCG – the Roos were rapt to get him.
Rewind 12 months and Perez was close to the top of Finnigan’s list.
But an ACL suffered at training in December left the former soccer player devastated, fearing his dream was over.
Enter impressive North recruiter Trent Mosbey, who had a heart-to-heart with Perez at a testing day.
“Trent came up to me at a testing day and said, ‘You’re not going to be forgotten. Make sure you do your rehab and work hard’ and that’s what I’ve done,” Perez said.
“It was pretty big. He said, ‘I knew once we had that interview with you at Bendigo we had to get you’.
“I think certainly (I can make an impact next year). I’ve worked on my body composition this year and got a bit fitter.”
Perez captained a Victorian soccer team and played nationals before giving the round ball the boot three years ago.
“I played at nationals for three years. That shows I obviously had a little bit of talent, and if I had of gone on with it I could’ve gone somewhere,” he said.
In the middle the Roos picked Jack Mahony, a modern-day midfielder.
Some experts thought Mahony might be the steal of the draft, given he is good at ground level, hits the scoreboard and doesn’t need 30 disposals to change a game.