‘He was my rock’: Rookie stands by mum on road to Demon draft

Melbourne young gun Fraser Rosman went to extraordinary lengths to keep his footy career going while his mum battled cancer.

Trudy Rosman, mum of Melbourne’s Fraser Rosman, is the ambassador for this weekend’s Pink Lady. Picture: Michael Wilson/AFL Photos

Melbourne Football Club rookie Fraser Rosman has stared down his share of tough opponents in his climb up the ranks to elite footy.

But the adversary his mum Trudy faced during Covid lockdown, after unexpectedly finding a breast lump, has been the biggest foe.

The pair have faced her cancer diagnosis side-by-side – right from the initial appointment with the surgeon just before Christmas of 2019 when they were told the cancer had been caught early.

They have stuck together through the highs and lows of the past year – the best and worse of life – that included 16 rounds of chemotherapy, surgery, 15 rounds of radiation, Fraser finishing year 12 and then him being drafted by Melbourne.

“Your mind just goes to some dark places,” Ms Rosman said. “I remember being told I had cancer and my first question was, ‘will I be OK, will I be around for Fraser?’

“I was told you’ve got it early, we can treat it. They were words that we both went back to quite often during treatment.”

Oskar Baker, Trudy Rosman, Fraser Rosman and Christian Petracca. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos

Fraser Rosman and Christian Petracca. Picture: Michael Wilson/AFL Photos

As Covid hit Melbourne, Fraser waited until after 10pm – once everyone had gone home – to do his running training at a local football ground to keep his immune-compromised mum safe.

They spent his 18th birthday together with a supermarket cake at the kitchen table, because Ms Rosman was so sick after chemo.

“He was my absolute rock. I had times when I was certainly down, and days where I just didn’t want to go to treatment,” she said. “He would tell me, ‘you got it early, you can do it, you’ll be all right’.”

Fraser, 19, said he took his role as No. 1 supporter in his mum’s cheer squad very seriously, constantly sought ways to keep her positive, and encouraged her to exercise.

“People don’t understand with cancer that it can be so random, so instant. Our lives basically changed from then when (the doctor) said mum had breast cancer,” he said.

Knowing his mum had finished treatment when he fulfilled his football ambition as pick 32 in the AFL draft, helped atone for the tough year.

“When my name got called out I was ecstatic. When mum was told she was cancer free, that was spectacular as well,” he said.

Ms Rosman said while news of being cancer free didn’t instantly erase the lingering worries and treatment side effects, she was looking forward to turning her attention to Fraser’s football ­career.

“I do feel some guilt over the last 12 months and what he’s had to go through. It’s not really fair. He was only 17. It was a lot on him,” she said. “I can’t wait to sit back and see where this footy journey takes him.”

The mother and son are supporting the annual Pink Lady match this Saturday, when Melbourne take on Hawthorn at the MCG.

It is their way of thanking Breast Cancer Network Australia for their support.

Ms Rosman said the BCNA, which aims to connect, inform and advocate for breast cancer patients at every stage, was her go-to resource throughout her ­treatment.

“When you’re diagnosed it’s so overwhelming. Information is thrown at you, with words you don’t even understand,” she said. “The BCNA website was a source you could understand and you trusted.

“Breast cancer doesn’t end when your treatment stops, there is fear of recurrence and uncertainty, it’s good to know that BCNA is always there at every stage.”

For $25 you can buy a place in the iconic Pink Lady’s Field of Women, which runs virtually this year alongside the game, and leave a message of support or dedication.

Details: pinkladymatch.com.au