‘It’s a hit job’: North Melbourne coach a dead man walking

Reports claim the fate of North Melbourne coach David Noble has already been decided with suggestions there is much more to the club’s review.

Tristan Xerri and Todd Goldstein have had it rough. Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

Coach David Noble’s time at the Kangaroos is on borrowed time with reports his job is the focus of the club’s review.

North Melbourne has begun a football department review as the club slips further into crisis during a season of misery for its fans.

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The club has just one win this season and rumours surround a fracture in the dressing room, while there’s also mystery over the future of No. 1 draft pick Jason Horne-Francis.

The pressure is building on Noble with the club winning just five games from 36 matches during his tenure.

Reports on Monday night claimed Noble’s fate has already been decided.

Long-time AFL administrator Geoff Walsh has been brought in to review the club’s operations — the same man responsible for the review that led to Carlton sacking David Teague in 2021.

Veteran reporter Caroline Wilson on Monday night suggested the review is in fact a “hit job” on Noble.

“I don’t think David Noble will survive the season,” Wilson told Channel 9’s Footy Classified.

“I don’t think he was aware Geoff Walsh was coming in until shortly before (the decision was made).

North Melbourne does not have answers. Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

“They’re not calling it a review, but it’s completely a review. It’s a hit job and it’s not just aimed at the coach, clearly.”

Wilson said Walsh will only be involved with the club in a part-time position for one month.

The Herald Sun’s Jon Ralph told Fox Footy’s On The Couch on Monday night Walsh’s review could be the “evidence” North needed to “move your coach on”.

“It’s been described as a top-to-bottom review of the footy department,” Ralph told On the Couch.

“The expectation is clearly that David Noble is very unlikely to survive.

“There is so many issues there, but they are basically hiding in plain sight – game plan, morale, development.

“Carlton will tell you they brought in Geoff Walsh last year for their review and anyone who knows anything about it knows that decision was made a long time before to remove David Teague. Probably something similar here.”

Kangaroos coach David Noble. Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images.

Former Port Adelaide star Kane Cornes recently said he was worried for the Kangaroos, particularly around the future of Horne-Francis.

“I’m not concerned for him. I’m concerned for North,” Cornes told SEN. “I’m concerned he pulls the pin and says ‘I’ve had enough’.

“I’m not worried about his long term future in the game or the player that he’s going to be.

“I’m more concerned for North Melbourne that he’s so frustrated with the state of the club that he says, ‘I want to go to Adelaide or Port Adelaide’.”