But last Sunday against Carlton, the 199 cm prospect pushed forward and kicked three goals.

Drafted in 2019 after playing forward for much of his junior career, Comben has suffered numerous injury setbacks before becoming a permanent member of North's rebuild.

"It will just depend on what the team requires, what's the match-up with the opposition," Clarkson said this week.

"What we'd love to be able to have is Charlie to have the flexibility to go from one end to the other just depending on what happens from the opposition one day to the next.

"He'll settle at centre-half-back or centre-half-forward at some point in time, but just at the moment it's just too early for us to predict which one it's going to be."

Comben's progress has pleased Clarkson, with questions about North's defensive stocks ahead of this season.

"It doesn't surprise anyone within the footy club what his capabilities are, but perhaps to the outside world because most of the outside world just judge players on what they can produce on game-day," Clarkson said.

"It was just a matter of having the durability to get out there week-to-week and that's what he's been able to show now to the whole football world. 

"It's a little bit of a surprise, but it's not to us."

Comben will loom large in North's clash with Geelong at Blundstone Arena in Hobart on Saturday.

The Cats are coming off a humbling 47-point defeat at home to the Western Bulldogs, halting the momentum they had trying to push for a top-four finish.

Former first-round draft picks Jaidyn Stephenson, Zane Duursma and Will Phillips all return for North, while Colby McKercher, Zac Fisher and Eddie Ford will miss due to injury.

Geelong premiership player Jed Bews has been included for his first AFL game of the season.

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