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]
AFL career
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]
Family
Noble is the son of David Noble, a premiership player with North Hobart Football Club in the Tasmanian Football League,[16] and later 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]
^The 2020 season was played with 17 home-and-away matches per team (down from 22) and 16-minute quarters with time on (down from 20-minute quarters with time on) due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
^Lovett, Michael (March 2023). AFL Record Season Guide 2023. Australian Football League. p. 98. Draft history: 2019 Mid-Season Rookie Draft selection (Collingwood) No. 14; 2022 NAB AFL Draft rookie elevation (Collingwood).