David Noble departs as North Melbourne coach after poor start to AFL season

North Melbourne coach David Noble are parting ways after a run of 14 successive AFL losses. Noble had held the post for less than two seasons, a period during which he delivered just five wins from 38 matches.

Assistant coach Leigh Adams is expected to fill in as interim coach for the remainder of the 2022 campaign for the bottom-placed Kangaroos. Adams’s first game in the hot seat will be against Richmond on Saturday.

The Kangaroos issued a brief statement on Tuesday ahead of an 11am (AEST) media conference, which Noble will attend alongside president Sonja Hood and chief executive officer Ben Amarfio.

“The North Melbourne Kangaroos and senior coach David Noble have mutually agreed to part ways, effective immediately,” the club statement said.

Noble’s tenure was increasingly insecure given the string of poor results and the pressure intensified when North brought in former administrator Geoff Walsh to review the football department late last month.

But Noble remained steadfast that he was the man for the job despite a widespread expectation that he would be removed.

“I believe in what I’m doing. I believe in the group that we have got,” Noble said after Saturday’s loss to Collingwood. “We’re resolute on where the direction needs to go.

“If there’s feedback for me as an individual to get better, I’m all for improving as a coach. But having been around the block, I think I’ve got a clear idea as to what needs to happen and that is what we’re pursuing.”

North have been approached for comment.

With Noble departing, the Kangaroos are certain to sound out four-time Hawthorn premiership coach Alastair Clarkson, who played for the Roos.

Clarkson, taking a year away from coaching, has spoken to GWS about taking on their vacant head coaching job from next season but is yet to signal his intentions.