There are plenty of Collingwood players in fairly good form early in 2023.
You’ve got the Daicos brothers, Josh and Nick, Jordan De Goey, Scott Pendlebury, Steele Sidebottom, Jack Crisp, Darcy Cameron and recruit Tom Mitchell, among others.
Their form has led the Magpies to a 2-0 start under Craig McRae and has them as one of the early premiership fancies.
As is always the case when a team is up and running, there are unsung heroes who fly under the radar and quietly go about their business.
One of those in black and white is John Noble who has been labelled by Kane Cornes as the best value for money player in the AFL.
The 2019 mid-season draft selection has started the season in good order, picking up 29 disposals in the Round 1 win over Geelong before he had 19 touches, six rebound 50s and four inside 50s in the weekend’s comfortable win over Port Adelaide.
Noble’s form has prompted praise from Cornes who highlighted the 26-year-old’s output versus his contract which would likely be on the lower side.
“John Noble is the best value for money player in the AFL,” Cornes said on SEN’s Sportsday.
“The 2019 mid-year pickup played every game last year, signed a two-year contract extension, and I reckon he’d be under the average wage.
“I’m guessing here, but I reckon he’s a $300,000 player. I reckon he’s worth $500,000.
“They say in American sport that the best value you can have in the NFL is a quarterback on a rookie contract because for five years the wage is set. When that expires you have to pay them half a billion dollars if they’re any good. It means you can’t spend money on the offensive and defensive lines.
“It’s the same with Collingwood. Because you’ve got such a bonus with Noble, you essentially get another half a good player in your salary cap.
“I just thought he was worthy of recognition. We’re all going to talk about (Nick) Daicos and everyone else at Collingwood, he’s one player that is in ripping form.”
Luke Hodge concurs with Cornes, especially given Collingwood’s recent salary cap issues.
“I don’t even reckon he’d be on that much,” he said.
“I agree with you with the fact that how important he is and what he’s been able to do. He came in at a mid-season draft, he will do anything to hold onto a contract and their salary cap was exploding last year.
“I’m saying it’s probably even more value for them because he’s probably getting unders.”
Since Noble was drafted from SANFL club West Adelaide, he has played 71 games for the Magpies primarily as a half-back. He averages close to 18 disposals a game across his AFL career.
