SACKED podcast 2024: David Noble recounts son John’s devestation at missing out on Collingwood’s 2023 premiership
SACKED returns with David Noble as he details how his son John let him know about being axed from Collingwood’s 2023 finals campaign. Listen to the first episode now.
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Former North Melbourne coach David Noble has detailed his son John’s complete and utter “devastation” at being dropped ahead of the 2023 finals series, revealing he had been so blindsided he could not speak for 30 seconds when he tried to break the news to his father.
John Noble is one of footy’s great success stories, playing 83 consecutive games in a row after being taken by the Pies as a mid-season draftee then being dumped for the 2023 finals.
He did not win his spot back that season and this week was traded to Gold Coast to be closer to family on a four-year deal.
The Herald Sun understands Collingwood players believe he never got over the painful aftermath of the demotion by coach Craig McRae, which came despite strong 2023 form.
Noble told the Herald Sun’s Sacked podcast the 2023 Grand Final was a torrid watch given the Lions’ list he had helped assemble as football boss lost to a Pies side without his son in the team.
Noble told Sacked he was still at a loss to explain his son’s demotion, which saw John call his father but struggle to get out the words.
“I’m a realist. I am probably as firm on him as any mentor he has got,” Noble said.
“If you don’t deserve to be in (the Collingwood side) I am happy to tell you. But he rang and I don’t reckon he could talk for about 30 seconds. That’s how long it took to talk. I thought he had mis-dialled me.
“He was absolutely devastated. Completely and utterly devastated. So as a parent, it’s not a death or anything unfortunate, but our family is extremely proud of how he’s held himself and what he’s done.
“(The 2023) Grand Final was a crappy, crappy day, that one. For me it was a really sad day.
“In the end I was going for Brisbane, Unfortunately I felt he got the raw end of the stick through it all.
“And it was a really sad day for a guy that had done absolutely everything within his power, from a mid season pick to play a certain number of games in a row, and just he’s totally committed, to not get that spot I thought was extremely disappointing. But unfortunately, decisions are made and you move on.
“From the other side there was a huge element of me that was cheering for Brisbane, not because John didn’t get picked but from the sense that you put the work in and it’s my old team who I played for. “There are still people at Brisbane who remember me running around in the twos in the number 38. When they hit the front I thought they were away. I deadset thought when Charlie (Cameron) kicked that goal they were just about over the line.”
“(John) was there to support the guys, whatever needed to be done. He is a team player first and he had to go away and reflect on that and try to make himself better. So much credit to him and he’s played some ripping footy this year.”
Former Fitzroy player Noble moved from Adelaide in 2016 and was the head of football for four years and helped appoint Chris Fagan as the club set up its premiership list.
He is now the chief executive of motor racing team Dick Johnson Racing.
Originally published as SACKED podcast 2024: David Noble recounts son John’s devestation at missing out on Collingwood’s 2023 premiership
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