An AFL premiership winner plans to swap his goal-kicking career in footy for a future in construction after successfully tackling a diploma at TAFE Queensland.
Brisbane Lions premiership backman Noah Answerth is putting in the hard yards for life after footy as he combines his ongoing 71-game AFL career with an 18-month Diploma in Building and Construction.
Designed to prepare graduates for a low to medium-rise Builder’s Licence in Queensland, the flexible course has allowed Answerth to kick future career goals without dropping the ball on his football commitments.
Having always been interested in construction, Answerth says he jumped as high as a speccy mark for the opportunity to enrol in the diploma, which offers a blend of online and practical learning at TAFE Queensland’s Eagle Farm campus.
“I did the online course with TAFE Queensland and did classes at night. Then I was able to go on-site as well at Eagle Farm campus to do laser levelling, surveying, and stuff like that,” Answerth told Build-it.
“It was very flexible, very easy to get done in your own time. To be able to have teachers on hand to email, message, or get onto a class with during the week to ask questions, made it really easy to finish and pretty streamlined.”
Despite being fresh off the Brisbane Lions’ first premiership victory in over two decades, the hybrid learning structure allowed Answerth to complete the course part-time, ensuring he didn’t disrupt his packed AFL schedule.
Gaining skills both on and off the oval, Answerth’s determination to catch a rewarding post-footy career after the siren sounds has been made possible by the Brisbane Lions’ flexibility to allow players to explore additional studies.
“The club allows in our schedules time to put towards outside curricular activities, and for me, that was the diploma through TAFE Queensland,” he said.
“The club was really understanding. They actually helped me sign up to the course, and we have a partnership with TAFE Queensland as well now, so the ability to have the club supporting you while studying was really important.”
Kicking goals off the field
For aspiring young tradies, Answerth’s journey serves as a blueprint to show whether you’re playing under stadium lights or working under a scaffold, there’s always time to build a better future.
He is not the only sports star to sign up to TAFE during his career, with Build-it previously reporting a growing trend among AFL and NRL stars encouraged to explore education during their playing days.
Brisbane Broncos player Cory Paix is another working behind the scenes at TAFE Queensland to complete his Cert III in Carpentry, which he started before landing his career-making contract in 2020.
Despite Cory locking in a sizable $320k annual salary with the team for a two-year contract, he encouraged young Aussies dreaming of a career in elite sports to have a backup career they could rely on.
“Footy’s not forever, and you’ve got the rest of your life to think about. I believe that a carpentry apprenticeship or any sort of trade, you should pursue that,” said Paix.
“Certainly, from a young age, my father told me that you’ve always got to have a Plan B, and I like the construction industry, and I’d love to pursue that. I did that, starting in grade 10, and am currently still doing it.”
“Obviously, it’s a long challenge with the one day a week between full-time footy, but it’s very enjoyable, and it’s a great lifestyle for after footy.”
Despite the transition, Cory won’t be escaping some on-field competition anytime soon, with NRL rival and Sydney Roosters star Lindsay Collins also completing his carpentry course.
“I am equally committed to setting myself up for a smooth transition out of professional sport and am deeply interested in both the Property, Construction, and Finance industries,” Lindsay says.
“These interests have motivated me to qualify as a carpenter and pursue my current studies of a Certificate IV in Finance and Mortgage Broking.”
