Emerging North Melbourne defender Charlie Comben says the club has taken so much confidence out of its first of the season that it believes it “really genuinely” can beat “gettable” reigning premier Collingwood.
The 18th-placed Roos finally got their first taste of first victory in 2024 by taking down the Eagles by nine points at Optus Stadium to improve to 1-11.
In what’s otherwise been a tough season for Alastair Clarkson’s young side, Comben, who’s thriving in a new role in defence amid a clean run of staying injury free, described the West Coast win as “pure elation” and “a sense of relief”.
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“It was pure elation after the game. It was also a sense of relief,” Comben told SEN radio on Friday.
“It feels like we really just needed a win to grow a bit of confidence in the group and what we’re actually striving towards.
“We put so much effort and work on the track and off the track to improve and really improve our game style to where we’re competitive and in games every week.
“To finally get one on the board, it is brilliant.”
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As such, Comben, 22, said North is “going to carry a lot of confidence into this week” as it eyes the huge scalp of the Magpies – albeit an injury riddled Magpies missing multiple stars including Scott Pendlebury, Jordan De Goey, Brody Mihocek and Jamie Elliott.
“We traditionally play quite well against Collingwood in the last three years,” Comben added.
“And they’ve got a few injuries and whatnot, so I feel like they’re really, really gettable for us this week.
“All the boys will go into the game really genuinely believing we can win, which I think will be huge for how we’re going to play on the weekend.”
While the Roos haven’t beaten Collingwood since 2019, they’ve lost their last few meetings by respectful margins of 35 points, seven points, 18 points and 30 points respectively.
Though at opposite ends of the ground, Comben will this week will come up against Darcy Moore, who he’s been studying from afar to observe the Pies skipper’s defensive craft.
“Last year I probably went to about three or four games with ‘Clarko’ at the back end of the year after he told me I’d be making the switch down back,” Comben said.
“One of the players we specifically targeted was Darcy Moore, just for that run off half back, intercept marking ability and the ability to lock down.
“We went to the footy and sat behind the goals, watching his running patterns and where he positions himself. I did a bit of a project and studied him for those few weeks.
“I think it’s held me in good stead, going into the pre-season I had a really good understanding of how to play an intercepting role theoretically, then being able to put that into practice.”
Source Agencies
