Former Brisbane Roar star returns to field following battle with leukaemia

A Brisbane man who made his A-League debut for the Brisbane Roar at just 16 is returning to the field with a new team following a battle with leukaemia.

Izaack Powell, 21, has made a comeback in soccer after a leukaemia diagnosis sidelined him for 19 months. Picture: Liam Kidston

Brisbane footballer Izaack Powell is days away from completing an inspirational comeback to the beautiful game following a 19-month lay-off battling leukaemia.

The Peninsula Power fullback is set to run out for his first competitive game in Round 1 of Queensland’s National Premier League since his diagnosis in June 2021.

Powell, 21, initially spent five weeks in the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital with his parents Suzie and John, and girlfriend, Charlotte Ross, ever-present at his bedside.

Chemotherapy and fortnightly trips to hospital would follow, then his hair started falling out and his strength began to wane fighting the bone disease.

Izaack Powell, 21, is set to play his first competitive football match for the Peninsula Power since he was diagnosed with leukaemia in June 2021. Picture: Liam Kidston

While Powell had to put his career on pause and almost retire from semi-professional football, he refused to let the dream die.

“They did say it was initially very unlikely but I always thought eventually I would get back, but I didn’t know when and I didn’t think so soon,” Powell said.

“It’s made me grateful to be playing at any level.”

Powell, who made his A-League debut for the Brisbane Roar at 16, said it was “crazy” to think how long he’d spent out of the game.

Looking back of photographs of himself in the treatment phase barely a year ago, Powell said he struggled to comprehend how he looked.

Peninsula Power’s Izaack Powell, 21, said he never gave up on the prospect of playing football again, despite a horror cancer diagnosis. Picture: Liam Kidston

The fit, powerful, attacking soccer player was replaced with a stranger.

“To me, I’m completely unrecognisable now,” he said.

“My face swelled up a lot due to the steroids and I managed to put on weight, and not having hair changes a lot.

“I noticed a massive difference in my strength too, up until now I was nowhere near where I was.”

Powell said he’d be forever grateful for the support of his loved ones, and the thousands of everyday Australians who chose to give blood.

Peninsula Power FC’s senior director of football, Ben Ryan, said the youngster had overcome huge hurdles just to get his fitness back to full speed.

Ryan said Powell had been with the first team squad from day one of pre-season, but was not allowed to join in until specialist clearance.

“He was supposed to come back slowly which he did, but his fitness levels and desire to get back on the park took over and snowballed, he’s weeks ahead of schedule,” Ryan said.

“He’s already back to playing 90 minutes in pre-season. It’s like he hasn’t had time off.”

Izaack Powell, pictured days before his 17th birthday, became the youngest player to represent the Brisbane Roar in the A-League. Picture: Nigel Hallett

Powell was offered a career lifeline by the Peninsula Power, the same club where his father and sister play and the same club where he first learnt to kick a ball when he was four.

It was however, a gamble to pick-up a young player coming off a horror diagnosis and not yet in the clear.

Ryan said he was of the firm believe that Powell was destined to return to the top flights of Australian football.

“If we can help him kick on and facilitate his career that’s our job done,” he said.

Powell is expected to line up for Peninsula Power’s Round 1 match against the Sunshine Coast Wanderers at the weekend.