David Noble has admitted that he is more suited to sports administration than coaching, following his failed stint in charge of North Melbourne.
Noble oversaw 38 games at the Kangaroos in 2021 and 2022 before being sacked after continuous dire performances by his players.
After several months Noble turned heads when signing with the Shell V-Power Racing team as its chief executive, returning to his roots as a back-office administrator.
Noble said he’s enjoyed returning his career to its original trajectory.
“It was a great opportunity (to coach in the AFL) and I will be grateful to North for giving me that opportunity,” he told the Herald Sun.
“But I guess eight of my last 10 years was in that admin (area) from Adelaide to Brissy with a bit of study in between, so that is the direction where I think could help an organisation on a broader scale.
“So, it was nice to be able to move back into that stream of probably where I was heading to a couple of years ago.
“As it has turned out, there are many similarities with structure, departments and how things unfold in respect to a motorsport team and in regards to an AFL structure.”
Noble had enjoyed successful stints with Adelaide and Brisbane before joining the Roos, overseeing success at both teams as the head of football on both occasions.
Before making the switch to Supercars, Noble’s name was also floated as an option to become the AFL’s new GM of football, a position still yet to be filled.
He revealed he underwent a meeting at AFL house about the role, but in the end was too excited about the new challenge.
“I have been a motorsport fan all my life,” Noble explained.
“I was really open to sitting back and seeing what unfolded. I had a really terrific stint and owe footy a lot, it provided me and my family across the board.
“But I was very open-minded to assess where my next direction was and an opportunity presented in another sport, which I felt really fitted the direction that I wanted to go – back into that senior executive role.
“I had one chat with Andrew Dillon and Gil (MLachlan) in regards to the (AFL) GM role but I was already a fair way down the path with speaking to (Dick Johnson Racing co-owners) Ryan and Brett (Ralph) by that time.
“I have been extremely energised and happy and grateful to be given an opportunity at such an iconic brand.
“It has been really stimulating. It’s obviously a new sport, so it’s a new challenge.”
North Melbourne appointed Alastair Clarkson as Noble’s successor, with the premiership coach the Roos’ third mentor in as many years years.
