John Noble (born 25 March 1997) is an Australian rules footballer playing for Collingwood in the Australian Football League (AFL). Playing as a half-back or winger, he was selected in the 2019 mid-season draft after spending several years in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL). He made his AFL debut late in the 2019 season.

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]

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 is the son of David Noble, a premiership player with North Hobart Football Club in the Tasmanian Football League,^[11] 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,^[12] and would be sacked midway through the 2022 season after a series of poor results.^[13]

Updated to the end of round the 2023 season.^[14]

Notes