A first-time senior coach, but one of the most experienced heads in the football industry; we take a look at the career journey of new North Melbourne senior coach, David Noble.

A premiership player in his home state of Tasmania with North Hobart, Noble was drafted by Fitzroy in 1989, playing two VFL games, his last of which was against the Roos.

After experiencing success as a captain-coach in the Yarra Valley Mountain Football League, Noble retired from playing at the age of 27 to focus on coaching.

Noble cut his teeth in the TAC Cup with the Oakleigh Chargers and NSW/ACT Rams, before earning his first role at an AFL club in 1997, when he was appointed reserves coach and senior assistant under Terry Wallace at the Western Bulldogs. 

Noble began his AFL journey with the Western Bulldogs.

He went on to win a reserves premiership in his first year at the Bulldogs, where he remained until 2002, before taking the reins at SANFL club Glenelg for two seasons in 2003 and 2004.

Noble returned to the AFL via the Adelaide Crows, initially as an assistant coach, but saw his role shift from the field into the office, first as list manager, and then General Manager of Football Operations.

Noble spent more than a decade with the Crows, including eight finals appearances.

After two years in the role, more than a decade at the club and having played an integral role in eight finals campaigns, Noble joined the Brisbane Lions in 2016 as their General Manager of Football.

Noble was instrumental in the hiring of Chris Fagan, and the club’s fortunes turned around remarkably under his stewardship, transforming from wooden spooners in 2017, to consecutive top-two finishes in 2019 and 2020.

Earmarked as a potential future AFL CEO, the 53-year-old was successful in securing the North Melbourne senior coach position at the end of 2020.

Noble helped turn around the fortunes of the Brisbane Lions.

It’s been a long journey for Noble to reach this point, but the fit of the club and coach has made it worth the wait.

“I’ve always harboured ambitions to coach, let’s make no bones about it, but I thought my opportunity had passed,” Noble told the media on Monday.

“I always have belief that you need to fit the club, as well as the club fitting you. The North Melbourne Football Club’s authenticity, its genuineness, its core values fit me. I believe my value set will fit North very, very well going forward.”