SA football legend Mark Naley ‘has recovered well’ after surgery to remove growth on brain
SOUTH Australian football legend Mark Naley is recovering in hospital after surgery to remove a growth on his brain.
SOUTH Australian football legend Mark Naley is recovering in hospital after surgery to remove a growth on his brain.
The 1991 SANFL Magarey Medallist and 1987 Carlton premiership midfields “has recovered well’’ after surgery on Thursday, his wife, Cassie, told The Advertiser, on Friday.
“He’s in good spirits, the operation went well and he woke up well,’’ Cassie said. “He’s up and about and talking so we’re seeing all the right things.
“They (doctors) removed the tumour and it’s gone off for pathology (testing), which will probably take two or three days (before getting results).’’
Naley, 55, was diagnosed with the tumour after having medical tests when he collapsed unconscious on a footpath in late November.
The silky-skilled and lightning-fast, left-footer, played 236 games with South Adelaide FC (1980-86; 1991-93) and 65 with Carlton (1987-90).
Naley, an inaugural SA Football Hall of Fame inductee in 2002, was South’s club champion in 1984 and represented SA in 16 State of Origin games (1981-89), winning All-Australian honours in 1986 and 1987, when he was also the Tassie Medallist as the best player in the now-defunct Interstate Carnival.
After football, Naley carved a successful media career, writing a weekly column for the Sunday Mail and calling games with the ABC.