Essendon legend Matthew Lloyd has expressed his disbelief after Collingwood surprisingly axed defender John Noble from the side to face Melbourne in Thursday night’s qualifying final.
The 26-year-old, who has played 83 consecutive games, was served the news during the Magpies’ Wednesday training session.
“That’s as devastating as it gets,” Lloyd said on Nine’s Footy Classified on Wednesday night.
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“I certainly didn’t see this coming. John Noble, who’s played every game since he debuted, 83 in a row.”
Despite the shock omission, Lloyd admitted it proves Collingwood is a force to be reckoned with this September.
The Magpies welcome back captain Darcy Moore from a hamstring injury, alongside Nathan Murphy and Beau McCreery. Billy Frampton makes way alongside Noble.
“It shows the strength of Collingwood going into this game, with these three players in (Nathan) Murphy, (Darcy) Moore and (Beau) McCreery,” Lloyd said.
“I would’ve thought it would have been (Oleg) Markov or (Will) Hoskin-Elliot left out.”
Lloyd raised the alarm for Noble’s position within the side, concerned he wouldn’t be able to find another in with the pending return of superstar Nick Daicos from a knee injury.
“The worrying thing for Johnny Noble is that Nick Daicos has to come back. So, he would suddenly be thinking about that as well and say ‘well, how am I meant to get back into the team?’,” Lloyd said.
Geelong champion Jimmy Bartel put a positive spin on where to next for the unlucky Noble, who is missing his first game since his debut in 2019.
“It’s the strength of Collingwood, that’s why they’re a couple of games clear on top of the ladder. But there’s always a role to play,” Bartel said on Wednesday night.
“That’s a good thing Collingwood have done there, they’ve got around him. You’ve got to keep him up, because there’s a big chance they’ll probably need him in the coming weeks.”
Bartel doubled down on Lloyd’s point that the Magpies have deep talent that they had to include in their side to face Melbourne.
“You have to get Moore and Murphy in, who have been very good down back. McCreery plays a certain role, it’s completely different, I know from Noble,” Bartel said.
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“I think the discussion would have come (down to) Noble and Markov. That would have been as simple as it is. One provides a bit more run with the ball in hand, the other one is a kicking half back flanker. They would have looked at the different options. Tough call.”
Collingwood’s opposition, Melbourne, also made big changes to face the minor premiers, welcoming back Tom McDonald from an ankle injury alongside Michael Hibberd.
Lloyd explained how Melbourne have similarly dealt with an axing like Collingwood’s of Noble, likening it to the Demons’ mismanagement of out-of-favour ruckman Brodie Grundy.
“The only difference Melbourne made, was that they made it (the call to drop) on (Brodie) Grundy maybe seven, eight weeks ago, whereas Collingwood made it on the eve of the finals,” Lloyd said.
Collingwood coach Craig McRae confirmed earlier in the week that the Magpies will run with both ruckman, Darcy Cameron and Mason Cox, in hopes of minimising star Melbourne ruckman Max Gawn’s impact.
“The best version of us over the last 18 months is when they’re both (Cameron and Cox) at their best,” McRae said on Tuesday.
Collingwood faces Melbourne at the MCG on Thursday night, with the winner advancing to a home preliminary final at the same venue.