Player revolt reportedly convinced Kangaroos to sack coach David Noble

North Melbourne’s president has come under fire from AFL greats after it was revealed brutal player feedback caused David Noble’s axing.

David Noble was given his marching orders as Sonja Hood came under fire.

David Noble’s demise as the North Melbourne coach reportedly had its origins in concerning feedback provided to senior management by staff and players.

His 38-game tenure resulted in only five wins and Noble became the first chess piece to fall as part of an ongoing review into the struggling club’s football operations.

Watch every blockbuster AFL match this weekend Live & Ad-Break Free In-Play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >

Feedback from staff and players reportedly raised red flags and the club was forced to cut Noble loose.

“The feedback from a large section of staff was so strong it left the club with little choice but to act,” SEN’s Sam Edmund reported.

“Some players also made it clear that unless Noble was sacked they would seriously consider their playing futures beyond this season.”

Edmund expanded on Noble’s conduct and the feedback that ultimately led to his downfall.

“The feedback from a large section of staff was so strong the club felt it had no choice but to act, in a behavioural sense,” Edmund said on SEN Breakfast.

“Some players had made it, not all players, some had made it really clear that unless there was a decision made on the coach, they would seriously consider their playing futures beyond this season.”

Speaking on AFL 360, Mark Robinson said Noble’s coaching wasn’t suited to the young group of players on the North list.

“He may be a good coach, but he may not be a good coach for a list like North Melbourne’s,” Robinson said.

“He was brutal, really demanding of standards and maybe if you had a more experienced group, that sort of feedback can be OK, I accept that, but when you’re younger … players clearly fell out with him. How does that happen?

“It’s not players not getting a game; players in the starting 18 have fallen out with him. How does that happen?”

Noble lost the playing group. Photo by Michael Klein

Former North Melbourne premiership player David King said the call, despite being tough, was the right decision.

“I think it is (right). It’s brutal. It’s hard. But I think that when you look at the direction of the club, the development that is lacking the progression in terms of the game plan, it’s a tough call, but 38 games in, as brutal as it is, he hasn’t been the man for the role,” King told Fox Footy.

‘Complete rubbish’: President’s remarks torched

North Melbourne president Sonja Hood has come under fire following comments made during Tuesday’s press conference to announce the club had parted ways with Noble.

Hood said the club was in good shape, but it was her remarks regarding the Kangaroos’ playing list that have ruffled the feathers of several greats.

“I’m not interested in wholesale change,” Hood said. “We’ve got a really great playing list, really great playing list.

“A lot of talent on our list and a lot of talent among our people.”

Former Port Adelaide star Kane Cornes was left scratching his head.

“It’s all on the coach. I’ve never seen more spin from a club ever and it started with the president who spoke about the really great playing list,” Cornes said on SEN Breakfast.

“Every player has improved and they’ve got a great list … I mean what rubbish. Do they think footy supporters and North Melbourne supporters are dumb?

“You’ve just sacked the coach and the captain says every player has improved under him, I don’t think there has been – perhaps Luke Davies-Uniacke, he’s been the only one.

“But to say every player has improved, now I understand Jack (Ziebell) is just trying to back up the coach on a difficult day and send him off in a good light.

“But for the president to get up there and say we have a really great playing list is complete rubbish.

“To put it all on David Noble is also complete rubbish, which is what she has done.”

Noble copped the entirety of the blame. Photo by Michael Klein

Cornes also took issue with reports several members of the playing group had called for the club to act and remove Noble.

“The player power part of this is fascinating for me as well, sounds like a few have said, ‘If he’s staying, we’re leaving’,” Cornes said.

“How’s the nerve on some of these players who have achieved nothing.

“Honestly it’s one of the worst playing groups we’ve ever seen, in the history of the game and they’ve got the nerve to say, and I’m speculating here, but ‘the coach is too hard on us’.”

Footy legend Leigh Matthews couldn’t believe Hood’s comments about the state of the roster.

“That’s a silly comment, isn’t it?” Matthews told Sportsday.

“I don’t think anyone in their right mind can think that North Melbourne’s playing list is really great.

“The most you can say is promising, in other words, we’ve got a lot of youth that’s unproven and it’s promising.

“‘Really great’ is not a term anyone else would use about North Melbourne’s playing list.

“It’s only words, but they’re words that have no fabric, do they?

“You could not possibly think they’ve got a really great playing list.”