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AAP
AAP
Sport
Oliver Caffrey

Defiant Noble in for 'long haul' at North

Despite winning just five out of 32 AFL games, Kangaroos coach David Noble says he's going nowhere. (AAP)

North Melbourne coach David Noble says he is at the embattled AFL club for the "long haul" following a tumultuous start to the season.

The Kangaroos are slumped at 1-9 and have endured another rocky week off the field with three staff recently departing Arden St.

Club legends, including dual premiership captain Wayne Carey, have hit out at how the Kangaroos are being managed.

Pressure has also amplified on Noble's future after winning just five out of 32 games since becoming North coach ahead of the 2021 season.

But Noble believes there are brighter days ahead and disputed claims he has a fractured relationship with some players and staff.

"I took this job on understanding that there will be difficult times, but I'm here for the long haul," Noble said on Thursday.

"I want our club to be successful and strong and all the things that get misreported outside are just not true.

"I don't know how many times I have to say our players are engaged, our players are moving forward.

"Our coaches are terrific; I've got a relationship with the CEO (Ben Amarfio) and the board ... for the last time we are moving forward.

"Building high performance is difficult, where we're building from needs to be rigorous and you need to have debate and you need to challenge.

"I'm here for the challenge and I'm not going anywhere."

National recruiting manager Mark Finnigan and head of player personnel Glenn Luff have quit, while colleague Ben Birthisel left last week.

"A lot of clubs do lose personnel, at different times, but it would be worse to lose three recruiters heading into the national draft," Noble said.

"I want to win more games, there's nothing clearer, but it's where we are, so now we've got to be united and strong."

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