Brisbane Lions defender Noah Answerth is looking down the barrel of a long recovery. The former All Australian ruptured his achilles in a contest with a Carlton opponent on Friday night. During his second term, Answerth sought to speed things up. Then without warning, his left leg buckled, and he fell to the field. The stadium went quiet as emergency medical personnel and players scattered to attend to the popular player.
At half-time, Brisbane Lions announced that the injury was a suspected ruptured Achilles tendon. This major disappointment will keep the 25-year-old on the shelf for the rest of the 2023 season. Prior to this accident, Answerth had appeared in each and every contest this season. His perseverance and dedication to the team were evident in every game.
Answerth’s injury is especially heartbreaking to hear considering what he’s gone through in the past. Make no mistake, he’s dealt with a host of major obstacles during his career, most notably serious groin injuries two years back. This most recent ailment only adds to a worrisome run of soft-tissue injuries that have plagued him over his career and kept him off the field.
Even with such a life-altering injury, Answerth was surprisingly upbeat. He sounded hopeful in a recent exchange with boundary rider Mitch Cleary, where he said, “I’ll see you next year.” His optimism speaks to his fortitude and will to fight through this challenge and come back even better.
Former player Luke Hodge explained what hurt Answerth on the field. He said, “He was taking off and his leg literally just snapped. He’s cut back to go the other way… as he’s exploded off that foot, all of a sudden it’s just collapsed. Hodge noted the painful experience associated with such injuries, stating, “You hear what people who’ve torn an Achilles have said and they say ‘it feels like someone kicked you or shot you’.”
Clouding his future as he looks to loftier goals, Answerth’s contract runs out at season end. In light of this injury, it’s worth pondering what the future holds for him in the league. Though he hoped to make it through an entire year without mishap, this most recent episode has put those plans in jeopardy.
