John Noble’s repeated defensive efforts epitomised Collingwood’s determined attitude in their upset win over Fremantle on Sunday.
Noble’s chase down tackle, smother and spoil in his defensive 50 resulted in a Magpies goal to Jack Ginnivan at the other end, as the visitors ran out 36-point winners in slippery conditions at Optus Stadium.
Garry Lyon singled out the defender’s desperate final-quarter efforts for praise at a time when Collingwood led the Dockers by 30 points.
“John Noble’s efforts yesterday could be my favourite moment of the year, that little 20 seconds of play,” Lyon told SEN Breakfast.
“I know that’s a big statement, but this was when the game was well in hand, he gets a fingernail chase down tackle that drags the Freo player off the ball. In the same process, he then throws himself on a boot and smothers it.
“The ball’s about to come back in 20 seconds later and he’s pushing deep into defence and throws himself across the leading Freo player and knocks it out of bounds.”
The tackle.
— AFL (@AFL) May 22, 2022
The smother.
John Noble refused to be beaten.#AFLDeadly | #AFLFreoPies pic.twitter.com/TrwgoiZMf7
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Nathan Buckley, who was the coach of Collingwood when Noble was selected in the 2019 mid-season draft, spoke glowingly about his character that got him his AFL opportunity.
“His whole life, he’s had to fight for everything that he’s got,” Buckley said.
“He had to fight to stay alive early, he’s had to fight for everything he’s got in his life. I love that kid’s story and I love the way he’s gone about his AFL career.
“He came as a mature-age recruit after cutting his teeth at West Adelaide playing senior football there, came into a mid-season draft, I just love his guts and grit and determination.
“He’s carved an AFL career out of not much. There’s a story in that for everyone. There are so many talented kids around that don’t commit enough. I just love that ‘Nobes’ is getting some plaudits.”
Noble, 25, has played 54 games for Collingwood and is yet to miss a game so far in 2022.