NOAH Kol uses football as an outlet from university.
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The South Warrnambool wingman, who will line up in the Roosters’ Hampden league first semi-final on Sunday, wants to become a doctor.
Kol, 19, is a second-year biomedicine student at Deakin University in Geelong.
Consistent grades at the end of the the three-year course will give him a chance to do a four-year post graduate degree.
“That is the big dream,” he said of becoming a doctor.
“It’s a long road but Mum and Dad keep telling me it will be worth it in the end.
“I’ve been at university for two years and it feels like five and I know I have another five to go.
“Ever since I was a kid I have wanted to be a doctor.
“I have always been fascinated with the human body. Disease, I really like that field and enjoy bioscience.
“I enjoy helping people and the patient side of things.”
Kol travels back to the south-west each weekend to play for South Warrnambool.
He’s become a familar face in the Mat Buck-coached senior side, playing 19 matches in 2017 and 18 so far this season.
“A reason why I love coming home is it’s four hours in the car,” Kol said.
“It’s just me in the car and I don’t have to worry about study.
“It takes you away from the university environment and you can relax over the weekend and do what you need to do.
“There’s a lot of good doctors around the club and physios are always good to talk to if you need advice too.”
“As time goes on, the more and more confidence I have as a player and I am thankful Bucky has believed in me to keep me in the side.
Kol is playing a defensive wing role for the Roosters.
He doesn’t have to look far for advice on his game.
His father Nigel is a former AFL footballer, having played 30 matches for Melbourne and Geelong in the 1980s.
He is also South Warrnambool’s most recent premiership coach, having led the Roosters to the 2011 flag.
“He coached me at under 16s for a couple of years,” Kol said.
“He always goes to every game. He hasn’t missed a game since under 14s.
“He’s really good support for me. He’s out there at half-time telling me what I should be doing.”
The Kols will attend the Melbourne-Geelong elimination final at the MCG on Friday night, eager to watch the Demons break a 12-year September drought on a winning note.
“It is the first final I will remember, I didn’t want to miss it,” the lifelong Demons fans said before the game.
“We were lucky to get tickets.”