Former Collingwood, The Block star Darren Jolly in cancer scare

FORMER Collingwood star and Block contestant Darren Jolly has undergone surgery to remove a lesion from his brain.

Deanne Jolly and Darren Jolly.

COLLINGWOOD star Darren­ Jolly has had surgery to remove a lesion from his brain.

The Block contestant’s wife Deanne is reeling after the shock discovery was made by doctors at a Melbourne hospital­ last week.

The couple, who have two young daughters, are remaining stoic and optimistic as they await test results to determine whether the lump is cancerous.

A Nine spokesman said: “Darren will know more about his condition over the next week. Until then there will be no further comment and he and his family respectfully request privacy while they navigate their way through this serious and sensitive issue.”

Jolly, 32, whose AFL career ended in 2013 after playing more than 250 games for three clubs (Collingwood, Melbourne and Sydney), sought medical treatment last week after persistent headaches.

Former AFL footballer Darren Jolly with wife Dee and daughters Scarlett and Lily. Picture: Hamish Blair

Dr John Tickell, a former Hawthorn footballer and brain cancer survivor, said the first step in Jolly’s treatment would be to determine whether his lesion­ was malignant.

Only then would they know whether Jolly would require further surgery, chemotherapy or radiation, he said.

Dr Tickell said it was possible an old football injury had caused the problem as fluid on the brain was usually the result of a head trauma.

An onset source revealed Jolly had also been seriously unwell while competing in the early stages of The Block: Triple Threat. The episodes are yet to screen.

The Nine spokesman confirmed­ that Jolly had a ventriculostomy — a procedure that involves drilling through a patient­’s skull so that fluid can be drained from inside their head.

“His surgery went well and two incision points were created to drain the fluid, which has eased the pressure and headaches,” the spokesman said. “A biopsy has been taken to determine what the lump is.”

Former Collingwood star Darren Jolly in his playing days.

The medical drama comes as the Jollys are seen on air tonight competing as All Stars in the popular Block series,

The Jollys filmed the latest instalment in the franchise just six days after the disappointing auction of the Prahran luxury apartment they renovated on the series last year.

The couple walked away with just $10,000 for months of slog when their property failed to attract big bids at auction.

Darren and Dee Jolly of The Block series pose at their apartment. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Jolly has admitted he considered walking away from Triple Threat after the dismal return they got for their efforts last year.

He also said he pushed himself to the edge — “ruining­ his body, physically and mentally” — in the hopes of creating a nest egg for his family.

Working on the gruelling series the first time was made even more stressful for the Jollys as their daughter, Lily, five, became so sick she spent time in hospital.

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