AFL 2021: SuperCoach favourite Charlie Comben cops cruel injury blow
One of the young key forwards North Melbourne hopes can help fill Ben Brown’s void has suffered another injury setback.
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One of the young key forwards North Melbourne hopes can help fill Ben Brown’s void has suffered another injury setback.
Charlie Comben, the first of the Kangaroos’ three second-round draft picks in 2019, is set for an indefinite stint on the sidelines with a tibia stress fracture in his right leg.
Scans confirmed the fracture after the 19-year-old reported calf soreness.
He is yet to play an AFL game, having sat out last season recovering from a back stress fracture sustained in a pre-season game against Melbourne, as North took a cautious approach with him.
The 199cm forward-ruck showed promise before that injury, holding his own against more seasoned opponents with his contested-marking ability that helped earn him his ‘Mr Upside’ nickname.
Roos football boss Brady Rawlings said it was a disappointing turn of events for Comben, who was working hard to try to force his way into the club’s forward line.
“We will take an extremely cautious approach to his rehabilitation, with a view on his long-term career,” Rawlings said.
“Charlie has a lot of potential, he’s a hard worker, has a great attitude and we see him being an important part of our team in the future.
“We’re confident that Charlie’s resilient character and meticulous approach to training will put him in the best position to return to full fitness.”
Comben suffered a string of injuries in his junior days, including a broken wrist, collarbone and cheekbone, as well as an incident that left him with a broken tibia, fractured kneecap and a dislocated kneecap.
North Melbourne traded Brown to Melbourne in the off-season, meaning 22-year-old Nick Larkey ascended to the No.1 tall option in attack.
Ex-Collingwood recruits Jaidyn Stephenson and Atu Bosenavulagi, skipper Jack Ziebell, Cam Zurhaar, hotshot prospect Tarryn Thomas and swingman Josh Walker are other forward options.
The Roos are also trialling key forward and former Lion Sam Skinner, along with another ex-Pie, Flynn Appleby.
BETTS SIDELINED WITH PRE-SEASON CALF INJURY
Carlton super-veteran Eddie Betts has suffered an early pre-season setback that will restrict him for the next fortnight.
A scan on Friday confirmed the 34-year-old suffered a low-grade calf strain, including irritating some old scar tissue.
The Blues resumed post-Christmas training on Wednesday, but Betts’ injury occurred a day later.
The champion small forward is entering what is almost certain to be his final season in the AFL after signing a fresh one-year deal.
Betts kicked 13 goals from 15 games last year in his second coming at Carlton after kicking 310 goals across six seasons at Adelaide.
Blues list boss Nick Austin stated at the time of Betts’ re-signing that his experience and leadership were valued every bit as much as his on-field output.
BUDDY’S BACK FOR SYDNEY SWANS
The Swannies are back for 2021 — and so is “Buddy”.
Lance Franklin made his official return to Sydney training on Wednesday, as the full Swans squad took to the field for the first time this year.
Franklin, who was sidelined for all of last season with a hamstring problem, took part in a skills session at Lakeside Oval, opposite the SCG.
The 33-year-old forward spent some time training at the club in the two-week block before Christmas when senior players were not required back.
Swans coach John Longmire said Franklin, whose last game was his 300th in Round 23, 2019, was “coming along really well”, but the club had not locked in a return date.
“He’s been terrific during the off-season and hasn’t really been away,” Longmire said.
“We haven’t pencilled in any particular point in time, other than to make sure that he’s nice and strong through the core, and he can get himself as resilient as possible to be able to prepare for the season.”
Longmire said Isaac Heeney, who featured in just six games last year after dislocating and rupturing the medial ligament in his right ankle, had been preparing well over summer.
Co-captain Dane Rampe is also back in full training after missing the last five games of 2020 with a fractured hand.
DUNKLEY STILL COMFORTABLE AT WESTERN BULLDOGS
Josh Dunkley’s Western Bulldogs teammates have not broached his failed trade request to Essendon, defender Hayden Crozier says.
Crozier was speaking after the Dogs’ first post-Christmas training session, which No. 1 draft pick Jamarra Ugle-Hagan and recruit Stefan Martin missed because of a delay in their COVID-19 test results.
Every AFL footballer must return a negative reading before training, as part of the league’s protocols.
Dunkley is contracted at the Kennel for two more seasons, but was keen to join the Bombers after becoming frustrated with his on-field role, among other reasons.
Crozier said they had “moved on” once a deal wasn’t struck — and Dunkley even hosted a New Year’s Eve house party with several of his teammates, including recruit Adam Treloar.
“That’s in the past now and ‘Dunks’ is the ultimate professional and someone who’s fully committed to the club going forward,” Crozier said.
“He’s just a fantastic player and a great bloke to have around the change rooms and guys love playing alongside him and love training alongside him.
“Myself, personally, I’m stoked to have him still here and so are the rest of the boys.”
Treloar was involved in his own messy trade situation, although he ended up switching to the Bulldogs as Collingwood desperately shed salary cap room.
However, the 27-year-old is fitting in well at his new football home and was part of the group training on Wednesday.
“Adam’s someone the club looked at, at the end of last year and thought he’d fit the bill really well,” Crozier said.
“I’ve caught up with him a couple of times and he’s got a great footy brain, he’s a great fella and he’s going to add a lot to this group going forward, so we’re all looking forward to playing alongside him.”
What Treloar’s addition does do is create an even bigger logjam for midfield spots, but Crozier wasn’t concerned, given the versatile skillset among that group.
He foreshadowed Treloar playing on the wing and even at halfback, on top of rotating through the centre, and predicted Marcus Bontempelli and Dunkley could play more forward.
Crozier even suggested Tom Liberatore could recreate himself as a pressure forward if required.
The early post-Christmas signs on the track were good, with beanpole ruckman Tim English visibly bigger and fast-rising midfielder Bailey Smith dominating the running drill.
Crozier had toe surgery on his right foot post-season that restricted him for about seven weeks, but he’s fit again.
There’s also been positive progress for Toby McLean, who on Wednesday ran for the first time on the AlterG anti-gravity machine since his ACL rupture four months ago.
Buku Khamis was on limited duties for much of the session as he deals with a knee complaint.
A visibly bigger Tim English and a taut-and-terrific Bailey Smith stole the show at Whitten Oval as the Bulldogs resumed post-Christmas.
There’s been intense focus in previous seasons on ruckman English’s slender 206cm frame, but he’s clearly worked hard during the off-season, which he spent mostly in Western Australia.
Smith won the Dogs’ annual MAS (maximal aerobic speed) running hitout and experienced teammate Hayden Crozier is tipping him to “take his game to the next level”.
Star recruit Treloar joined his new teammates on the track.
The ex-Magpie returned to training early, and briefly, before Christmas but will now ramp up his preparations ahead of a showdown with his former club in Round 1.
As for English, his teammates have noticed his physical maturity.
“He’s looking bigger and stronger and his golf game is getting better, too, so he’s pretty happy about where he’s at,” Crozier said.
Crozier had toe surgery on his right foot post-season that restricted him for about seven weeks, but he’s fit again, while Toby McLean on Wednesday had his first AlterG running session since his ACL rupture four months ago.
Buku Khamis was on limited duties for much of the session as he deals with a knee complaint.
JOE D AT HOME IN BRISBANE
Lions captain Dayne Zorko has tipped star Brisbane recruit Joe Daniher to flourish away from AFL-obsessed Melbourne.
The Lions had their first pre-season training session on Wednesday at Yeronga, with former Essendon forward Daniher working up a sweat in the Brisbane heat.
Daniher’s decision to remain in Queensland after the Bombers returned to Melbourne following their Gold Coast hub stint seems to have paid dividends for him on and off the field.
“Since the season finished Joe stayed up here the whole time, so he’s been around the group the past three months, training with them and has fitted in absolutely seamlessly,” Zorko said.
“He’s fitted into this lifestyle really well. He seems to be a guy that likes to just float undercover as much as possible and get his work done, and he’s been able to do that here.
“I’m really glad that he could come up here and enjoy his football again, and mingle with the guys which he’s done already.
“He’s been around most of the guys’ families as well and everyone loves him and his partner, so they’re really great additions to our football club.”
Despite Wednesday being the official start of Lions’ training for the 2021 season, Zorko was proud of the way several players worked hard in the off-season during their COVID-19-affected holiday period.
“The beauty about us not being able to get away overseas is the ability for players to all train together,” Zorko said.
FIT NORTH MELBOURNE WELCOMES EX-PIE
At North Melbourne, only key forward prospect Charlie Comben (back stress fracture) won’t fit in some sort of on-field training at Arden St, with the Roos rolling out recruits Aidan Corr, Jaidyn Stephenson and Lachie Young.
Last year’s best and fairest runner-up, Jy Simpkin, looks in great shape and a clear early standout, while another young midfielder, Luke Davies-Uniacke, also appears to have put on some size.
North stuck mainly to light skills and one-on-one drills, but also fit in some basic game-sense training and fitness work.
New coach David Noble was also on the track, keeping a watchful eye without taking control of the session.
Up North, New Lion Joe Daniher joined his teammates for training at Yeronga.
CHIP DEBUTS ON TRACK AT ST KILDA
St Kilda also resumed training on Wednesday, with veteran Dan Hannebery among those to impress in the time trial in a promising sign for his season prospects.
Dan McKenzie and Jack Sinclair also featured prominently, along with draftee Matt Allison.
One Saint who didn’t take part was Jade Gresham as he recovers from the back stress fracture that prematurely ended his 2020 season.
Gresham instead completed some running on his own after the session.
Shock signing James Frawley also stepped out in his new colours.
Frawley announced his retirement from the game at the end of last season before backflipping on that decision to join the Saints.
He was joined by gun recruit Brad Crouch on the track.
KELLY ALREADY ON FIRE FOR GWS
Josh Kelly set a club record in the Giants’ 2km time trial on Wednesday.
Kelly finished ahead of Tim Taranto and draftee Ryan Angwin as GWS returned to training.
Phil Davis, Matt Buntine and Shane Mumford were being managed and did not run.
Giants defender Nick Haynes said the club, which missed the finals for the first time since 2015 last year, was focused on jelling after lots of off-season list changes.
“We’ve got six new draftees so I’m feeling really old this year and a lot of old boys have left,” Haynes, 28, said.
“There’s a different dynamic but it’s young and fresh and exciting.”
Port Adelaide and Fremantle were also among the clubs to return with Dockers captain Nat Fyfe looking in very good condition ahead of the new season.
New year, new Nat #foreverfreo pic.twitter.com/WdBFohlMhe
— Fremantle Dockers (@freodockers) January 6, 2021
Originally published as AFL 2021: SuperCoach favourite Charlie Comben cops cruel injury blow
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