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While it has been a season of ups and downs for Jake McNamara due to injury, the 19-year-old has gone from strength to strength away from the field in 2016.

He was recently named TAFE Student of the Month, and became the first player to receive the award for the second time after he collected it in 2015 as well.

Having completed his Certificate III in Surveying last year, McNamara is now working towards his Diploma in Surveying.

“It’s the second time, so I’m really happy about that,” McNamara told Knights TV following the award.

“I’ve put in the hard yards and it’s good to be rewarded.”

While not playing, training or at TAFE, McNamara works at Positive Surveying Solutions in Newcastle as a labourer, with the aim of becoming a surveyor.

“I’m looking to finish my diploma at the end of this year, and I want to move up and onwards in the field,” he explained.

“At the moment I’m basically a labourer for a surveyor, so I definitely want to become a full time surveyor in my own right.”

McNamara has been in the Knights’ junior system since he was 15, and played his final year of Under 20s football this season.