Noble chases draft pick to revive Roos

NORTH Melbourne coach David Noble has put a priority pick at the draft on the table for his battling club as the Kangaroos stare down the prospect of a full season without a win.

North’s last victory came in Round 9 last season, and Noble is yet to achieve his first win as coach through eight games this year after taking over from Rhyce Shaw.

The Kangaroos have recorded just one win in their past 23 AFL matches and this season their VFL team is also winless and scored just 153 points in four games.

Noble said his team could “do with a bit more help” and he would talk to the league about the getting a priority pick in this year’s draft.

“I’d love one, absolutely I’d love one. Why wouldn’t we?” Noble said on Thursday.

“If we were in a situation where that mechanism could be activated, then I’m all for it. Absolutely.

“At the previous place I was (Brisbane), we applied for it.

“It may be a bit early, but I think if you stopped the season now then, yeah, we do (deserve one). We could do with a bit more help.

“We’re certainly interested in speaking to the AFL.

“It’s probably from an admin perspective. I don’t know whether those conversations have started to be had. But from a coaching sense, I’d certainly be keen for the club to talk to the AFL about it.”

AFL boss Gillon McLachlan said it was a “bit early” to be talking about priority picks, but North officials could ask.

“Every coach is open to getting a priority pick. I think it’s a bit early,” he said.

“There’s a process in play and if they apply, of course it will be treated on its merits and it’s up to them.”

North has been hit hard by injury this season, and already has fielded 16 players aged 23 or younger.

Just three of those players, Jy Simpkin (81), Jaidyn Stephenson (62) and Cam Zurhaar (51), have played more than 50 games.

However, Noble said he would look to “the future” in the mid-season draft, rather than try to find immediate help for his team.

Noble also said that his message about North putting “process” above wins had been misconstrued, and beating Hawthorn in Launceston was the Kangaroos’ aim.

“I feel like we have explained ourselves really well over the past few weeks and it’s been misinterpreted,” he said.

“We go out every week to win. I don’t know where this discussion has come “why are we chasing the process?’

“You have to get the God damn process right to win. A lot of people in the football industry know that.

“I’ve said publicly we go in to every game to win. That shouldn’t be taken out of context. The way you get there is you have to hit that process really hard.

“If you put the win before the process, you fall over.”