Collingwood rookie John Noble savours stunning debut win over West Coast
New Magpie John Noble was plucked from the SANFL less than two months ago. Thrown into the fire of a Grand Final rematch against the Eagles, the rookie says the thrilling one-point win was “something I’ll remember forever”.
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Collingwood mid-season draftee John Noble says he is “pinching myself” after a fairytale debut victory over West Coast.
Noble, plucked from SANFL club West Adelaide in May, played an instrumental role in the Pies’ thrilling one-point win over West Coast, shutting down the Eagles’ four-goal first-half hero Jarrod Cameron.
“I keep pinching myself waiting to wake up, but I’m just enjoying the ride and I can’t wait to see what’s in store,” Noble told the club’s website.
“To debut, let alone to have a win like that against the reigning premiers in a Grand Final rematch in WA is something very special that I’ll remember forever.”
The 22-year-old looked a ready-made AFL footballer, handling the pressure of the Pies’ biggest match of the year in front of a hostile crowd in picking up 18 disposals, while keeping Cameron goalless after halftime.
Noble said there was always belief in the group, even when facing a 16-point deficit at three-quarter time without the injured Darcy Moore and a number of banged up players.
Will Hoskin-Elliott was forced into defence onto the Eagles hulks, while Brayden Maynard shut down Jack Darling.
“We certainly had to adapt and I think that’s something that’s special about this group, we’ve always got people who can cover positions and adapt with what the game throws at you,” Noble said.
“Will was crucial for us in the back end of the game (and) Bruzzie (Maynard) … was instrumental for us in that second half of the game.
“They’re (Eagles) a very competitive, contested team and we knew we had to grind that out in the last quarter and that’s what we did.”
Noble has only been at the Pies a couple of months, but he says he’s brought into the club’s culture.
“There’s a very strong culture here that Bucks (coach Nathan Buckley) and the coaches have put together around the club and that follows through through (the) administration and everything, it’s a very family-type culture and it’s great to be involved in something like that,” he said.
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