Farewell and thanks - John Noble

[lazzadesilva]

For every Nick Daicos, we need a John Noble because different roles require different types of players to ensure that the team is perfectly balanced. I have noticed that this Collingwood team has 20 - 25 players who mesh well together to provide the drive and constant running movement that is hard to defend against. It’s impressive football with the ability to present multiple options for attack. This also requires players to run both ways which they seem to be doing.

[RudeBoy]

As good as Noble has been, he's getting better week by week.

He and Cameron are both amazing 'value for money' players.

[Meredith1965]

Noble reminds me of Jack Crisp in his early years. Completely unheralded, but a major driver of our running game and a hugely underrated cog in the machine.

[piffdog]

As good as Noble has been, he's getting better week by week.

He and Cameron are both amazing 'value for money' players.

This supports my theory that the most valuable asset any club can have is the ability to make players better - either through coaching, how they are played, off-field support etc. You can get players cheaper or lesser known, and they end up loving the club and wanting to stay because they recognise they wouldn't have become who they are without them.

I think this is the wisdom of having 3 x former head coaches on the staff, and also Fly's history as a development coach.

Loving both Noble and Cameron and great to see them getting a bit of love from the punditry as well.

[Charlie Oneeye]

I had relegated Noble to the cusp of the 22.

I always loved what Noble brought to our side, A good measure is when he was out injured, I reckon we really missed him.
But for the longer term, I thought eventually a better playmaker was needed.

Low and behold, this year he seems to have gained yards to his game, has improved his influence out of sight. Maybe it's the Nick Daicos effect. lol

Now he is touching Gun level !!!!

[Pies4shaw]

^ He isn't routinely conceding 2 goals a game by losing one-on-one contests. That was the problem with his game, previously.

[Pies2016]

Slowly but continually, he’s grown into his tattoo.
He’s clearly bigger across the shoulders since he came into the game and it’s a credit how he has improved his footy year on year. It’s not easy to get sustained improvement at the elite level. I’ve said this previously but if everyone on our list had improved at the rate he has, we would be talking threepeat’s right about now.

[stui magpie]

Noble reminds me of Jack Crisp in his early years. Completely unheralded, but a major driver of our running game and a hugely underrated cog in the machine.

I like the comparison with Crisp.

Came cheap, does his job, adds run and carry and improved every year to the point where they are vital cogs in the machine.

[K]

Matthew Lloyd reckons Johnny Noble is the best MSD pickup of them all.

[Mossi]

^ Agree with you K, but I have to add that Ash Johnson is another!

[David]

This article from twelve months ago had Noble third behind Marlion Pickett and Jai Newcombe. I think one could certainly argue he's gone past both.

https://www.zerohanger.com/the-10-best- ... -121320/8/

Johnson is excellent, but not quite at Noble's level of reliability and consistency yet. I think you could certainly put him in the top 10 now.

[What'sinaname]

No, you couldn't argue he's better than Newcombe. Jai is easily the best of the mid season draft picks, and by a huge margin.

[jonmac1954]

^ He isn't routinely conceding 2 goals a game by losing one-on-one contests. That was the problem with his game, previously.

I just don't understand how people can't comprehend that when you play the game flat out 150% and going for everything all the time - which is what John does - then yes you will make mistakes.
Some people focus on these mistakes but it can blind them to the literally huge drive he gives us 100% of his game time.
Great value.

[think better]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1dby_2bOSw

https://www.afl.com.au/video/767116/nob ... 3213134001

[David]

That latter clip is the kind of thing you build a football club around. Never seen anything like it!

What's been Newcombe's bravest on-field act?