On a wet and miserable Sunday in September, Sean Crawford became one of just two players to be part of a third straight under-18.5 Riddell District Football League premiership for Rupertswood.
Crawford knew that winning feeling, having been part of the winning team in two previous seasons, but this win was just a bit more special.
For most of the year, playing football was the last thing on Crawford’s mind. He was diagnosed with stage four Hodgkin’s lymphoma in February after his father noticed a lump on his neck and after a whirlwind of tests and biopsies, diagnosis was confirmed – cancer.
The tests revealed the cancer had been spreading for 12 months. In that time Crawford had completed year 12, played in a football premiership, went on schoolies and was in the middle of preseason.
“I didn’t notice, it was my dad who noticed it,” Crawford recalled last week. “It was in my neck region, in my throat and two spots in my lungs. I was stage four.”
Crawford was prescribed six months of chemotherapy, heading to the hospital once a fortnight for treatment.
“It was a bit nerve-wracking at first, walking in there,” he said. “I was probably the youngest person around.
“I had minimal side effects … and then it started to get worse . The last four dosages …
“I got a PET scan midway through and it said I was clear of it [cancer] but I had to keep doing the chemo.”
Crawford’s friends and football club rallied around him and his family. Among all the gestures, two really stood out.
One of Crawford’s closest friends organised for a group of friends to visit him at home one night and they all shaved their heads.
“It meant a lot to me. They were supportive through the whole treatment,” Crawford said.
“At the football club, all through the juniors and seniors, they wore yellow arm bands. It was pretty special.”
The arm bands were also in support of another Rupertswood family member going through her own cancer battle, Mary Morrice. Crawford and Morrice first met each other at the day chemo unit.
Despite his ill health, Crawford attended almost every Rupertswood training session and game. He was named vice-captain and managed to play two games early in the year while having treatment, and a third in August.
“It was a bit of normality,” he said of going to the club.
“[Under-18.5 coach] Tony [Lucas] was trying to qualify me for finals, and there were weeks they were short on players. It kind of matched up with my week without the chemo, and I was feeling good to play.
“He gave me the job of coaching the midfield. I was a bit nervous going towards that role [midfield coach]… it was a big step up.”
“In the seniors, I was doing the board for Fitzy [Kevin Fitzgerald] … I was still getting involved.”
Come finals time Crawford found himself in the mix and he was named in the side’s semi-final team.
“I wanted to tell Tony that I didn’t expect to play,” he said. “I didn’t want to get picked just because I had cancer; I wanted to earn it.
“When I got picked on the Thursday night at selection, it was a pretty good feeling.”
Crawford was swamped by his teammates when he kicked a goal in the semi-final, and was named among the best players.
His semi-final game cemented his spot in the grand final, when Rupertswood went on to defeat Woodend-Hesket, 19.14 (128)-7.11 (53).
“When I was diagnosed, I didn’t expect to play at all this year. I was just focused on the year after, and getting back to health,” Crawford said.
His parents Jo and Andrew are full of praise for the football club and the support given to Sean, and the family.
Andrew spoke at the club’s best and fairest night, thanking the club, in particular Lucas and president Paul Ross.
“The two most important things that we wanted for Sean – for him to know that he was not alone in his fight and that the people who loved and cared for him would be with him all the way,” Andrew said, “And to focus on his future, a bright and normal future – Rupo were invaluable in both regards.”
Crawford, who recently turned 19, was last week given the all clear from doctors. He will have to have regular blood tests, but can go back to living a normal life.
Crawford said he’s looking forward to many things, including playing footy next year in the seniors and/or reserves at Rupertswood.
“It’s certainly a journey, but there’s light at the end of the tunnel. I was unlucky, but there’s not much else you can do about it. I guess acceptance is a big part of it.”
