John Noble (footballer)

Noble, originally from Adelaide, was born prematurely^[1] as an identical twin. As a result, he was required to take medication during childhood which delayed his physical development.^[2] He began playing for West Adelaide in the SANFL from 2016, playing 43 games and kicking 24 goals during his time at the club.^[3] Noble represented his league in a 2019 match against a West Australian Football League (WAFL) representative side, laying four tackles and amassing 24 disposals.^[4]

Noble was recruited by Collingwood as a rookie with pick 14 in the 2019 mid-season draft, replacing Lynden Dunn after he was moved to the long-term injury list. The club's recruiting manager, Derek Hine, cited Noble's combination of speed and endurance, together with his performance in the state-league representative match as the reasons he was selected.^[4] Ben Hopkins, West Adelaide's chief executive, congratulated Noble on his selection but pointed out the club's disadvantage and lack of compensation for losing him to the AFL.^[5]

Noble initially wore guernsey number #49 at Collingwood.^[6] He began playing in the club's reserves side in the Victorian Football League (VFL), and after three matches was called up to the AFL team in a round 17 match against West Coast.^[2] Noble accumulated 17 possessions on debut but injured his calf. He returned in the last two rounds of the home-and-away season and went on to play in Collingwood's two finals.^[7] Ahead of the 2020 season he re-signed with Collingwood until the end of 2021,^[8] and inherited guernsey number #9 from Sam Murray, who had been delisted.^[9]

Noble was elevated from the rookie list to a senior spot during the 2022 AFL draft.^[10] Noble played every game of Collingwood's first-place home-and-away season in 2023, amassing a streak of 83 games, which was the highest of any mid-season draft pick at the time. However, Noble was omitted for Collingwood's qualifying final against Melbourne, and was not selected in the winning team of the 2023 Grand Final.^[11] Noble made his return to the side in 2024,^[12] playing a further 20 games, including his 100th game against Adelaide in round 10.^[13] Due to family reasons, Noble requested a trade to Gold Coast at the conclusion of the season, despite being contracted until the end of 2026.^[14] The trade was completed on 15 October.^[15]

Noble is the son of David Noble, a former Fitzroy player and a premiership player with North Hobart Football Club in the Tasmanian Football League,^[16] who later became a professional sports administrator with experience at Adelaide and the Brisbane Lions. Noble was able to use his father's connections, knowledge and advice to assist him as a prospective draftee.^[1] David was appointed as the senior coach of North Melbourne in November 2020,^[17] and would be sacked midway through the 2022 season after a series of poor results.^[18] David returned to Queensland in late 2022 and based himself on the Gold Coast where he accepted a CEO role at Dick Johnson Racing,^[19] a move that would later contribute to John's request to join the Gold Coast Suns in 2024.^[20]

Updated to the end of round 7, 2026.^[21]

Notes