AustralianFootball.com Celebrating the history of the great Australian game
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)
Club | League | Career span | Games | Goals | Avg | Win % | AKI | AHB | AMK | BV |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Carlton | V/AFL | 1950-1961 | 188 | 36 | 0.19 | 51% | 10.50 | — | 3.00 | 34 |
Total | 1950-1961 | 188 | 36 | 0.19 | 51% | 10.50 | — | 3.00 | 34 |
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