After an 18-month hiatus and a week full of doubt, North Melbourne is finally playing in Tasmania again, taking on Melbourne at Blundstone Arena on Sunday.
Blundstone has traditionally been a happy hunting ground for North, as it has powered its way to a 16-6 record in Hobart.
The current crop of players will no doubt be keen to build on the club’s positive history in the Apple Isle.
“The exciting thing for us is to be able to go to Tassie and play. It’s been 18 months since we’ve been down there,” Noble told North Media.
“Ticket sales have been going really well in the last 24 hours, so we strongly encourage our fans down there to get to the game.
“It’s a pity we can’t stay a bit longer, that was always the plan … but I guess we’re hoping our fans have the capacity to get to the game … it’s crucially important for us to get great support.”
Aaron Hall and Charlie Lazzaro were both notable absences from last weekend’s fixture with Fremantle, with the pair staying in Melbourne due to injury.
Hall was in the midst of the AFL’s 12-day concussion protocols, while Lazzaro was missing due to the management of a tight hamstring.
As long as they get through training, Noble says both players should be fit and available for selection.
“We’ve got main training this morning and then we have selection afternoon,” he said.
“We held 24 players over yesterday, [so] we had a three-day break [between VFL and AFL fixtures] if someone extra needed to come into the mix.
“I think ‘Hally’ (Aaron Hall) and Charlie (Lazzaro) will certainly be in the selection framework this week.”
Taking on a Melbourne side in unbelievable form, North will have to be well and truly on its game to take the fight to the unbeaten Demons.
With a midfield consisting of Christian Petracca, Angus Brayshaw, Clayton Oliver and Jack Viney, Melbourne has big, strong bodies who can take a game by the scruff of the neck at any moment.
Noble says the time his side has spent reviewing its structure at stoppages should hold it in good stead, when it comes to limiting the impact of such players.
“Part of the work we did in reviewing [the Fremantle game] was our structure and how we set up around the ground. At certain times we were disappointed … so we’ve done a lot of work around that this week” he said.
“At the end of the day it’s a competitive game so we have to have our guys willing to step in there … we’re [not] asking our young crew to go out on the field and get a whole bunch of numbers, because that’s not how they play their best footy.
“A challenge for us is to bring that energy and intensity from the get go. Melbourne are a great clearance team … we need to be on our mettle, no doubt about that.”
