Six-time Port Adelaide premiership defender Roger Delaney says he feels a lot better, nine months after prostate cancer surgery
He is the six-time Port Adelaide premiership defender whose prostate cancer diagnosis shocked fans and former teammates. But Roger Delaney tells The Advertiser he is on the mend.
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Six-time Port Adelaide premiership defender Roger Delaney is no longer undergoing treatment and is feeling a lot better as he continues his recovery from prostate cancer surgery.
Delaney was diagnosed in January following a routine blood test – one month after popping in to see the Power’s 2018 pre-season camp in Noosa – and went under the knife in March.
The Sunshine Coast-based former full-back returned to Port training on both Friday and Monday as players hit the training track in Maroochydore.
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Delaney, 53, chatted with club officials, past Magpies teammates Russell Johnston and Greg Boyd, and watched on as his 13-year-old twins Jada and Cooper ran water for the squad, just as they did last year.
“I’m a lot better and getting better all the time,” Delaney, who played 208 games for Port and one AFL match for Fitzroy, told The Advertiser.
“There’s probably another six months of recovery but most of the recovery has been done, which has been good.
“Treatment has stopped but I still haven’t got a full clearance yet.
“It’s a matter of monitoring it now and seeing if and where it comes back, if it does.
“But I’m feeling pretty healthy.”
Delaney’s cancer was considered high-grade but did not spread to other parts of his body.
He was thankful for the support he had received over the past 12 months from family, including his wife Jacqui, and friends, such as ex-teammates George Fiacchi, Tim Ginever and Rohan Smith.
“I’m only in my early 50s and to be diagnosed with an aggressive cancer, it was important for me to get the story out,” he said.
“But then for the outpouring of support to come back was pretty amazing.
“The Port Adelaide community got around me and still do to this day.”
The Power return’s to the Sunshine Coast for the second consecutive year is special for Delaney and his family, who are diehard Port supporters.
“The twins are getting a bit older now but they still just want to be around the club,” he said.
“They love the club as much as I do and really enjoy meeting their heroes.”
Next year Delaney plans to take his family to a handful of Power games in Adelaide, as well as the round one match on the Gold Coast.
Four-time premiership Magpie Boyd also popped in to watch two Power trainings, while flag-winning Port captain Johnston came on Monday.