Adam Perryman to captain Prince Alfred Old Collegians in Adelaide Footy League grand final after cancer battle

Two years ago Adam Perryman was diagnosed with cancer but now – after fighting that battle – the Prince Alfred Old Collegians captain will lead his side into another.

There was a point when Adam Perryman questioned whether he would ever be able to play football again.

Two years ago a routine scan turned the Prince Alfred Old Collegians captain’s life upside down when he was diagnosed with testicular cancer.

But Perryman has not only succeeded in that fight and is in remission, he will lead the Old Reds out to another battle in this Saturday’s division one Adelaide Footy League grand final.

The 29-year-old was diagnosed just weeks after PAOC lost the 2019 decider by two points to Payneham Norwood Union, which coincidently will again be their opponent.

Adam Perryman will captain Prince Alfred Old Collegians in this Saturday’s division one grand final against Payneham Norwood Union. Picture: Matt Loxton

Not long after Perryman was told the cancer had spread to his stomach and would require surgery and chemotherapy.

“I’d been having really bad trouble with osteitis pubis throughout that year. I went to get a scan on my groin to see what the best process was to rehab it going forward,” Perryman said.

“They detected a pretty sizeable lump in my left testicle.

“It was pretty confronting to hear that news.”

After about four months of chemotherapy in late 2019 and early 2020, Perryman received positive news from his doctors he was winning the battle and turned his focus to getting back on the field.

But the talented half-back flanker – a natural leader so assured and composed on-field – questioned whether he ever would.

Perryman has been one of the Old Reds’ best and most consistent players since their step up into division one in 2016. Picture: AAP/Morgan Sette

“I didn’t know if I would play footy again,” the three-time best and fairest winner said.

“My first training back I couldn’t even run a lap without having to stop just because the chemotherapy sort of destroys you from the inside out.

“It was a long road back.”

Perryman managed to get on the field in last year’s Covid-shortened season but admitted he was “drained”, not his usual self and once again questioned whether he could go on.

Instead of quitting, he put in a mountain of work over the off-season to rebuild his body and aerobic capacity which were worn down through treatment.

This season he was reappointed by the playing group as captain and has gone onto lead them to the minor premiership, a grand final appearance and has been named in PAOC’s best players on seven occasions.

The Prince Alfred OC skipper was part of the club’s 2015 division two and 2016 division one premierships, as well as the grand final defeat two seasons ago. Picture: Matt Loxton

Perryman, who lives in Angaston working in the thoroughbred industry, also played his 150th game for the club last Saturday in a 74-point preliminary final win over arch rival St Peter’s OC.

“You can’t play footy forever and coming back and playing this year is something I’m very proud of,” he said.

“I’ve always enjoyed playing footy, the camaraderie and mateship you get from being around a football club is something that you crave and I would miss too much I reckon.”

Now in remission from his testicular cancer, he had a message for others: “If you think something is feeling wrong with your body, I would encourage everyone to get checked,” he said.

“Early detection is just so important.”

Perryman and the Old Reds will hope to sign off on a terrific season with one more win this Saturday in the grand final against PNU at Richmond Oval.