Australian Football

Paddy Noonan commenced his senior career with Fitzroy in 1896, and was a key member ofthe club's inaugural VFL line-up the following year. A lively, gutsy and highly creative rover, his 36 VFL games in three seasons with the Maroons included the winning Grand Final of 1898 against Essendon. In 1901 and 1902, Noonan added a further 19 league games with Carlton.

Crossing to North Melbourne as the club's new captain in 1903, Noonan had the satisfaction, at season's end, of starring as first rover as his team downed Richmond in the Grand Final, 7.6 (48) to 3.9 (27), to clinch its first ever VFA premiership. The following season North went back to back when it was awarded the flag after its Grand Final opponent, Richmond, refused to front up for the Grand Final because it objected to the VFA's choice of match umpire. North had qualified for the premiership decider with a 6.13 (49) to 5.2 (32) defeat of Footscray in the final, and the team which took the field that day, in which Paddy Noonan lined up in a forward pocket, is regarded as its premiership combination.

After a brief time with Williamstown, Noonan returned to North Melbourne and in 1909, his last season, was appointed captain. He later served the club in a number of off-field and administrative roles.

Over the years, North Melbourne has produced, or been home to, a fair number of top quality rovers. One thinks, for instance, of names like Aylett, Cable, Harvey, Stevens and the Krakouer brothers. However, arguably the first in that long line of great small men at North was the club's inaugural premiership captain, Paddy Noonan.

Author - John Devaney