Bye Bye Nobles

[archereleven]

Elaborate pls mate

Basically said his messaging is all over the place, saying one thing at half time and then the opposite in his presser.

It's up to the coach to analyse where the game is at and convey what he wants from the team. Said you could see in the 3rd quarter when the team gave up as they couldn't get the ball forward of centre...

Said he would sack Nobles.

On SM-G991B using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[Mixed Results]

You know how in close games, sometimes the side on top will play possession football too early and lose. We've seen it play out many times where the trailing side is allowed to gather momentum and steal a game against an opposition too passive to take a risk that could cost them the game.

That's essentially how we've been playing all year. We're a side that's too afraid to take risks. A side that has been drilled to take the safe option. A side instructed not to attempt the 40m kick into the corridor when there's a 20m option right in front of you.

In football, there are only so many safe options available until you're forced to kick to a contest. Taking these safe options beforehand does nothing but allow the opposition to set up in advantageous positions that make it all but impossible to move the ball forward. We essentially hold the ball up and wait for the opposition to get into perfect position before we attempt to move the ball end to end.

This is the simple fact of why a new coach will immediately improve us. People focus on the end result of the kick that turns the ball over, but miss what leads to that result. They see Simpkin hack the ball to an unfavored contest, but don't realize the complete lack of efficient options for ball movement that are available.

They say our players wouldn't get a game for another side, but ignore that other sides would put them in better situations to succeed. I'm seeing posts where people say in all seriousness that Stephenson wouldn't get a game for another side. Well, I must have imagined him kicking two goals in a Grand Final after winning the Rising Star in his first year. The AFL consists of the most elite players in the world and there is not an extreme amount that separates them. GWS entered the competition with one of the worst lists we've ever seen, yet could occasionally get within 47 points of a side.

The first quarter against Geelong was one of our best all year. There was some exciting ball movement through the middle and we took the game on and had some success against a top side.

Then things became stagnant. We reverted to the same nonsensical direction that has seen us be uncompetitive for three months.

At halftime against Geelong, David Noble was interviewed and mentioned how we needed to focus more on ball control. At that point, I wondered what it must have been like to listen to David Noble at halftime. What it must have been like to listen to a coach who the whole world knows has only three games left. What it must have been like for him to in all earnestness reinforce the same message that has failed us for 11 games in a row. What could you possibly have thought when listening to his sincere message that things may be different if we tidy things up and stick to our structures a little better.

I speculated before the game against Geelong that the unrest caused by this review could cause our margins to blow out and so far that has proven to be true. For one week you can blame a top opposition and a tough ground to play at, but if there's another 100-point loss next week then the blame should fall on the board. There's a reason that once you know a man isn't the right fit for a job you have to move on instantly. Going through this four-week charade serves absolutely no onfield purpose, but exists to protect a board that has put itself ahead of its supporters.

 

[Dingster]

Dumont would have been better than Greenwood. Straight up improvement, he could run (both ways) and spread and defend. Was limited sure but would have been better value than Greenwood in this years midfield.

A winger is specialist position and we gave one away and left ourselves with Polec as the only other. This forced us to push players into that role when they weren't capable or ready. I don't mind the development of Perez even if he gets beaten. At least he's a viable option. I like Taylor, but as a high half forward. He's not a winger.

 

[the big lebowski]

How anyone could think that North, one of the poorer kicking teams, should play possession football on a skinny ground in greasy conditions, after having given up 10 goals plus per game on turnover is well beyond my comprehension.

 

[TheUnderstater]

Excuse the interruption but was just watching First Crack and Montagna had a quality piece on David Noble . LM said don’t blame the players, the contest and effort was there but Noble’s mixed messaging is clearly draining the players of confidence. Highlighted Noble at half time saying the team should get back to uncontested marks and keeping the football as per Q1. Then in the post match presser DN blamed the players for not adapting to the game/weather and not playing long down the line football. Was a tough look.

 

[Devington]

Just on the tactical side of things... What is Blakey and the rest actually doing? Do they not speak up? I mean Nobes is on the ****ing bench anyway...

I don't get how it's devolved so far. It stinks.

 

[William Caresser]

Serious question. Has anyone been in a job where you know that your employers think you're not up to it and it's only a matter of time until you're cooked?

Did you just hang on until the inevitable hoping they have missed it? Did you change your approach hoping it would make a difference? We're you so confident you were right and everyone was wrong?

I'm not saying I'm great at my job, I've just never been in that situation.

Noble has nothing to hang his hat on. A review means someone is getting the arse. Results suggest it's you. Why are you hanging on?

No but if I was earning $500,000 pa and contracted until year's end, I'd hang on until they sacked me. If he resigned now he'd lose $250,000 wouldn't he?

 

[DocSholl]

It was only with those guys in the side that we were competitive. Two of them are Syd Barker winners, another one was nicknamed "the janitor" by his teammates cos he was always cleaning up their mess.

Surely you've noticed how small we look in comparison to our opponents and how easily we get pushed off the ball, have tackles broken or get blocked out of contests.

I completely agree that we lack valuable senior players - I would have kept Dumont as I think he was really important structurally last season and is also a great example of someone that trains hard and gets the most out of himself. But Noble didn't want him, and that's on the coach.

But there are enough senior bodies on the list to not be one of the most uncompetitive teams in AFL history, especially when you consider Corr and Greenwood have come into the side. It's arguably not even the margins that are concerning, it's the incredibly lopsided statistics in general play (inside 50s, scores from rebound 50s, uncontested possessions, effective possessions, metres gained) that just shouldn't happen with an AFL side, even a rebuilding one.

You'd almost take a 1-14 season if you could see promising signs, players were improving, body language was positive and we were staying in games for longer. But we're not.

Simpkin, Stephenson and Thomas, three players who looked on the verge of really breaking out and anchoring this rebuild, have regressed and look miserable. Larkey and Zurhaar are feeding off scraps. McKay is for some reason playing forward while CCJ is sitting in the VFL watching Xerri get five touches per week while Goldy goes on television to say he has no idea if he's getting another contract. Powell spends most of the match on a flank while Greenwood attends every centre bounce ineffectively.

Noble inherited a shit sandwich and has somehow made it ten times worse. I feel for the bloke but I have no idea how people are watching this every week and coming to the conclusion that no coach could do better,

 

[DocSholl]

Dumont would have been better than Greenwood. Straight up improvement, he could run (both ways) and spread and defend. Was limited sure but would have been better value than Greenwood in this years midfield.

Then the coach shouldn't have delisted him. He wanted to stay.

 

[Marstermind]

No but if I was earning $500,000 pa and contracted until year's end, I'd hang on until they sacked me. If he resigned now he'd lose $250,000 wouldn't he?

So you'd be in it for the right reasons then?

 

[ferball]

I disagree re: Dumont and Greenwood. Agree Atley was better than was made out here. I'm saying the net between our gains and losses isn't that huge to explain what we're seeing week in and week out.

Quite frankly, I think the positions they're instructed to man when we're defending a ball in our D50 precludes them from being able to find space to hit up at the ball carrier. The turnovers burn a heap of tickets, and even where it does work it still burns an insane amount of tickets. Oppo clubs know this.

To a point I agree with the bolded. But we aren't that much different to our worst performances last year.

Re the italics ... other sides do this too, even good sides. But we do seem to spend alot more time doing it. Maybe its more a standard reaction to oppositions getting on top but we're unable to get the momentum back our way, unlike other sides.

I think skills are the issue ultimately tho. And that hasn't changed for years. Its the same problem. Different coaches, footy departments and players.

 

[ferball]

Then the coach shouldn't have delisted him. He wanted to stay.

Really? I thought he wanted to leave.

 

[William Caresser]

So you'd be in it for the right reasons then?

I meant working for a hypothetical employer who wanted to get rid of me. Let's imagine a soulless corporate, not NMFC.

 

[Limerick]

Serious question. Has anyone been in a job where you know that your employers think you're not up to it and it's only a matter of time until you're cooked?

Did you just hang on until the inevitable hoping they have missed it? Did you change your approach hoping it would make a difference? We're you so confident you were right and everyone was wrong?

I'm not saying I'm great at my job, I've just never been in that situation.

Noble has nothing to hang his hat on. A review means someone is getting the arse. Results suggest it's you. Why are you hanging on?

Nobles has left it way too late to "hang on" and definitely too late to change his approach. He is now left with agreeing to an honorable resignation or outright sacking. In terms of his future, he would have been better to have accepted that his approach wasn't working and seek external advise as to the options. If this wasn't successful then resign. Being inflexible and being sacked isn't great on a resume.

 

[ferball]

I completely agree that we lack valuable senior players - I would have kept Dumont as I think he was really important structurally last season and is also a great example of someone that trains hard and gets the most out of himself. But Noble didn't want him, and that's on the coach.

But there are enough senior bodies on the list to not be one of the most uncompetitive teams in AFL history, especially when you consider Corr and Greenwood have come into the side. It's arguably not even the margins that are concerning, it's the incredibly lopsided statistics in general play (inside 50s, scores from rebound 50s, uncontested possessions, effective possessions, metres gained) that just shouldn't happen with an AFL side, even a rebuilding one.

You'd almost take a 1-14 season if you could see promising signs, players were improving, body language was positive and we were staying in games for longer. But we're not.

Simpkin, Stephenson and Thomas, three players who looked on the verge of really breaking out and anchoring this rebuild, have regressed and look miserable. Larkey and Zurhaar are feeding off scraps. McKay is for some reason playing forward while CCJ is sitting in the VFL watching Xerri get five touches per week while Goldy goes on television to say he has no idea if he's getting another contract. Powell spends most of the match on a flank while Greenwood attends every centre bounce ineffectively.

Noble inherited a s**t sandwich and has somehow made it ten times worse. I feel for the bloke but I have no idea how people are watching this every week and coming to the conclusion that no coach could do better,

I'm in two minds about it. Sometimes I think even I could do a better job.

Simpkin, Stephenson and Thomas, three players who looked on the verge of really breaking out and anchoring this rebuild, have regressed and look miserable.

This is bothering me more and more actually. Especially JY and TT.

 

[outwecome2play]

Serious question. Has anyone been in a job where you know that your employers think you're not up to it and it's only a matter of time until you're cooked?

Did you just hang on until the inevitable hoping they have missed it? Did you change your approach hoping it would make a difference? We're you so confident you were right and everyone was wrong?

I'm not saying I'm great at my job, I've just never been in that situation.

Noble has nothing to hang his hat on. A review means someone is getting the arse. Results suggest it's you. Why are you hanging on?

It really depends on what messages you are getting. You would imagine if there was an issue that you would told. Normally if there is a disconnection you would move on.

 

[DocSholl]

Really? I thought he wanted to leave.

He loved North. Was waiting around right until the end of the trade and delisting period to see if he'd get another contract.

 

[Themanbun]

To a point I agree with the bolded. But we aren't that much different to our worst performances last year.

Re the italics ... other sides do this too, even good sides. But we do seem to spend alot more time doing it. Maybe its more a standard reaction to oppositions getting on top but we're unable to get the momentum back our way, unlike other sides.

I think skills are the issue ultimately tho. And that hasn't changed for years. Its the same problem. Different coaches, footy departments and players.

Other sides do it, although not always to the same degree as us, but couple it with boundary movement rather than corridor as you need to give forwards a chance to swing back around. Bulldogs are a good example of this although I don't rate their game plan. The sides that employ this press don't score nearly as quickly as the Fremantles and Essendons (two examples of the alternative, one good and one shit) of the comp, because they can't go through the corridor while doing it.

I suspect this is behind our shift to long down the line, which isn't working because we have zero aerial presence forward of the ball.

 

[iSmack]

Lmontagna with an excellent observation on First Crack.

Handed it to Geoff Walsh on a platter…

 

[Themanbun]

Lmontagna with an excellent observation on First Crack.

Handed it to Geoff Walsh on a platter…

Has thrown public blame for coaching related issues onto the players quite a few times this year.

 

[Roadrunner]

Just do the noble things Noble, please resign. We are all behind you to resign or be sack

 

[Limerick]

His smart move would be to tender his resignation to the Club on the basis that he stays until they get a replacement (permanent or temporary).

 

[Devington]

It's an interesting thing Montagna supposedly mentions. Not sure if he touched on it but in the first minute of the post match press conference noble talked about going away and reflecting on how he coached over the day. The fact he then afterwards talked about postmatch giving the players homework to think about if they understand the shifts in the game doesn't bode well for that reflection lol. Kinda reminds of that Simpsons meme with Principal Skinner wondering if it's him that is wrong.

 

[Marstermind]

It's an interesting thing Montagna supposedly mentions. Not sure if he touched on it but in the first minute of the post match press conference noble talked about going away and reflecting on how he coached over the day. The fact he then afterwards talked about postmatch giving the players homework to think about if they understand the shifts in the game doesn't bode well for that reflection lol. Kinda reminds of that Simpsons meme with Principal Skinner wondering if it's him that is wrong.

 

[scottywiper]

Just on the tactical side of things... What is Blakey and the rest actually doing? Do they not speak up? I mean Nobes is on the ******* bench anyway...

I don't get how it's devolved so far. It stinks.

It seems Noble doesn't allocate too much responsibility to others.