Brisbane’s Noah Answerth wins Rising Star nomination, two years after breaking his back
A broken back almost ended Noah Answerth’s AFL dream in 2017. But the Brisbane Lions defender is now thriving at the top level — and he says he largely has his dad to thank for it.
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He might have broken his back in his under-18 year, but Brisbane’s Noah Answerth refused to let the injury break his spirit.
In just the second game of his all-important season with Oakleigh Chargers in 2017, Answerth was crushed in a marking contest and suffered a “freak injury” with a fracture to his L1 vertebra.
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He spent 12 weeks in a back brace with limited mobility.
“The hardest part was coming back and training again and running,” Answerth said last night, after being named the AFL NAB Rising Star nominee for Round 20.
“Early on you think you might not be able to do it. But to be where I am now, you look back on it and think I nearly stopped playing there for a bit.
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“But my dad was really good in saying, ‘You might as well have one more go at it’. That’s probably the best advice he’s given me.”
Selected by the Lions with pick 55 in last year’s national draft after shining as a 19-year-old with the Chargers, Answerth has gone on to play 14-straight AFL games since making a Round 6 debut.
The defender — who today celebrates his 20th birthday — inked a two-year contract extension until the end of 2022 after just his second AFL game, such was the immediate impact he made at the club.
“I didn’t really expect to play this year, let alone play 14 games now,” Answerth said.
“To get drafted to Brisbane and to come here and be welcomed by all the players and coaches, I’ve learnt so much.”
Answerth, who also played baseball as a junior, produced his best game of the season against the Western Bulldogs on Sunday, recording 18 disposals and six marks across halfback.
He is now looking to get a footing in the building industry, having completed a pre-apprenticeship in carpentry.
“I’ve lined up a builder to do my apprenticeship with, just one day a week,” Answerth said.
“That was the pathway I was going down (if not for football) so it will be great to get it started.”
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Originally published as Brisbane’s Noah Answerth wins Rising Star nomination, two years after breaking his back
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