Australian Football

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Key Facts

Full name
Bruce Comben

Known as
Bruce Comben

Born
23 October 1930

Died
15 December 2002 (aged 72)

Age at first & last AFL game
First game: 19y 181d
Last game: 30y 279d

Height and weight
Height: 173 cm
Weight: 79 kg

Senior clubs
Carlton

Jumper numbers
Carlton: 15

Family links
Aubrey Comben (Father)John Comben (Brother)

Bruce Comben

ClubLeagueCareer spanGamesGoalsAvgWin %AKIAHBAMKBV
CarltonV/AFL1950-1961188360.1951%10.503.0034
Total1950-1961188360.1951%10.503.0034

Pre 1965 stats are for selected matches only

AFL: 5,957th player to appear, 772nd most games played, 2,602nd most goals kickedCarlton: 636th player to appear, 45th most games played, 204th most goals kicked

Known as 'Bugsy', Bruce Comben was a tough, determined and highly talented back pocket specialist who gave sterling service to Carlton during an unusually inauspicious era for the club. Between 1950 and 1961 he played a total of 188 VFL games, and was captain from 1958 to 1960. During the 1960 season he suffered the ignominy of captaining the first ever VFL representative team to lose against Tasmania. However, a more fitting testimonial was accorded when he was selected in the back pocket in Carlton's official 'Team of the Twentieth Century'. Between 1970 and 1972 Comben coached Werribee in the VFA's second division, but the side struggled, winning just nine and drawing one of its 54 matches over the three years.

Author - John Devaney

Sources

Full Points Footy Publications

Footnotes

* Behinds calculated from the 1965 season on.
+ Score at the end of extra time.