He’s the first to admit North Melbourne’s thrashing on the Gold Coast was “not on” but David Noble is adamant better days are ahead for his AFL club.
The Kangaroos were smashed by 59 points at Metricon Stadium on Saturday, leaving them 0-2 after a 52-point hiding by Port Adelaide in the opening round last weekend.
Noble said his team had performed in “bits and pieces” against the Suns but their overall performance wasn’t acceptable.
The coach did however highlight a successful return from a calf injury by rugged midfielder Jed Anderson as a positive.
The 27-year-old was North’s standout player, making 14 tackles and gathering 27 disposals, including 17 contested possessions.
Noble says his team’s engine room will be further bolstered by Ben Cunnington who is set to play in the Good Friday clash with the Western Bulldogs after overcoming concussion issues.
“We’ve got some good soldiers coming back,” Noble said.
“Cunnington will be right next week. Luke McDonald’s a couple of weeks away. Trent Dumont’s continuing to sort of try and get going.
“In the next few weeks we hope that we’ll be able to put a bit more rigour around those young ones that we’ve got that are learning the caper really well.”
Noble said he was pleased with how his young players had started the season.
“We’ll be able to add some more support around those guys, particularly in the middle. That’s a really good sign for us going forward,” he said.
A less encouraging sign is ankle injuries to Jack Mahony and captain Jack Ziebell.
Mahony limped off late in the fourth quarter and was subbed out for Aaron Hall while Ziebell spent much of the third term on the sidelines before returning to play out the game.
“We were wondering whether or not we were actually going to sub him out at one stage,” Noble said of Ziebell.
“The doctor needed to take him back down to the rooms to re-strap him…he came back on and he was fine.
“As your skippers and your leaders tend to do, they want to come out and lead from the front so credit to him for getting back on the paddock for us.”
Pumping Dougie
Roar Guru
I hope they wait a week before improving. Poor Josh Elliot must be glad he doesn't have to write about North this year.
Pope Paul VII
Roar Rookie
They took out that mortgage in 1925 so that's a fair old foundation. Membership has hovered around 40,000 in the past decade, plus they have interstate supporters who turnout. I don't think the AFL will turn them out in a hurry. And certainly not without a fight. And I agree, they appear to have got little right since 2016.
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
Nah Carlton have actually shown something in both of their games this year
Boo
Guest
Pope Paul V11 I thought McDonald was the no 1 in his draft year often key forwards from the draft have no exposed form against men he I think was second on the WAFL goal kicking .North IMO haven't always got it right in recent times and I'm wondering why they have a mortgage on an AFL spot when a Tassie side , Norwood in SA or a third WA side could probably match then for support .No doubting your comparison between Ablett and Carey but if the Duck couldn't lift the supporter base who can ?
Ace
Roar Rookie
thought you might
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Disagree completely
Ace
Roar Rookie
you miss the point as Geelong did not win so no better than the rest except Richmond
Pope Paul VII
Roar Rookie
That's because Ablett was a god and Carey was only a king Boo. I'm not sure it's about having superstars and building support. Most people are literally born followers. As J T says they're hemmed in. But in good years that can transcribe to 20-30,000 at games. Alas times have not been kind. If North had got Dusty in his draft year perhaps it might have boosted and sustained local interest but it's an almost impossible challenge to build numbers. Interestingly, like me, they have reasonable interstate support. Although probs a lot of this dates from pre AFL days when kiddies adopted an VFL side. This no doubt has dropped with kiddies going for home state teams and now adults from that era denying they had even heard of their former beloved VFL side. Still, I will say it one more time, they were insane not take Logan McDonald.
Boo
Guest
JT Delacroix maybe your right they have to do something or there gone .When my kids did Auskick in the 90s no one wore jumpers for Wayne Carey but in Southern Melbourne many had no 5 from Geelong on there back .The Roos just can't seem to build support .
J.T. Delacroix
Guest
Not Greensborough, Boo. That’s mainly Collingwood territory. Like Watsonia, Bundoora, Rosanna, Heidelberg etc. North are hemmed in. Always have been.
true blue
Guest
Carlton are in the mix too. We have a tough draw.
Boo
Guest
North Melbourne don't have a makable identity and with the list they have will struggle .Arden street is not the spot to position the club maybe in the northern suburbs around Greensborough .Build a big community / club training centre and been known as the Kangaroos .How are they going to become competitive again there's no natural drafting advantages such as the go home factor some clubs have .If Carlton, a money club , can't become a force in over 25 years why will North achieve it .
berrlins
Roar Pro
They have a really poor list, their youth isn't that good. They'll get smashed by the Dogs next week and probably several times after that
Nico
Roar Rookie
:laughing:
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
Hahaha that they are it’s infuriating.
Angela
Roar Rookie
Swans are nifty selectors. Kinnear Beatson has been doing his brilliant stuff for twenty years. Occasionally, there's a stuff-up (Kurt Tippett) but overall they have a great record - especially taking on kids others have overlooked and turning them into champs. Outsiders like to point the finger at LF, however, Swans fans heartily disagree. The future is looking very bright at the Swans thanks to their clever 'front office'.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Rubbish Ace. Geelong were up to their eyeballs in 2020 into the last qtr of the GF. Adelaides season was done by round 8.
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
Whoever wins the bombers north game avoids the wooden spoon.
RooBoy18
Roar Rookie
Considering the raft of changes North made to their list in the off-season, Noble is going to need most of the season to get the team to gel as a cohesive unit before any major improvement. They'll be up for the challenge of avoiding the wooden spoon by August.
Pope Paul VII
Roar Rookie
North should kidnap his family for the duration like they do with all the other stars.