Geelong figure Jase Nelson tragically passes away from cancer, aged 53

The brother of an ex-AFL player has tragically died after a battle with cancer. But he still managed to put others first even when he was going through the fight of his life.

Jase Nelson has passed away, aged 53.

Jase Nelson was a man who put everyone else first, even during the fight of his life.

Jase was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), a severe form of cancer, in 2022 and yet still managed to care for others during a difficult battle that tragically claimed his life on Sunday at the age of 53.

And one of his final projects will ensure his legacy lives on forever.

Jase is the older brother of West Coast premiership player Will and a former Geelong Amateur player who has been heavily involved with the Ammos junior program for the past decade.

He put a call out to the Geelong community to give 1000 donations of blood products.

The Love Live Jase Nelson Lifeblood Team was born and Jase rallied their members every step of the way, sending video updates on his own health and congratulating the group on each milestone.

Jase with Will Schofield after he won the 2018 premiership. Picture: Twitter

Through the donation drive more than 100 people became first time donors, including James Lee, a close friend of Jase’s son, Riley.

Jase was a significant mentor for James throughout his life and James believes there was shades of Neale Daniher about him; a fantastic human being who manages to make the lives of others better despite his own suffering.

“In recent times since his diagnosis and starting up the Jase Nelson Lifeblood team a thousand blood donations is just the start of his legacy,” Lee said.

“Even in this last year and a bit when he’s been having the hardest time of his life he is out thinking about other people and trying to help them.

“Jase’s influence – everyone in Geelong seems to know him. Obviously you don’t want it to happen but when it does, for a good person to be in that situation you hopefully make it easier for others in the future – it is a pretty great legacy.”

But that is just the start of what endeared people to Jase, and why there will be such a gaping hole in their lives now that he is no longer with us.

“When Riley sent the message to me the other day it’s not so much shock because you knew it was coming, but you just feel a bit less whole or like something’s missing because it’s just someone that it shouldn’t happen to,” James said.

Schofield’s emotional tribute to him on social media showed the positive impact he has had on those close to him.

“You had a special ability to connect and understand people, a memory like no other. I always admired you for those things, but have only recently understood why — it’s because you cared so much,” Schofield wrote.

“You’ve always been so proud of my achievements and special moments throughout my life — I’ve just been proud to call you my brother.”

Last night we lost my big brother Jase.

I’ve always viewed media me and my private life as very seperate things. I wanted to share this with a wider audience though as my brother Jase has been the biggest influence on my life and I’m very proud to be his brother. pic.twitter.com/XO2KNrjAkP

— Will Schofield (@WillSchofield) September 18, 2023

The Team long Live Jase Nelson Blood Drive.

CARING COACH

Jase co-coached Riley and James to a thrilling one-point premiership win in 2016, and players still recall his pre-game pep talks.

Before the game, Jase went around to every single player in the team offering words of encouragement before the big game.

It wasn’t any words of wisdom in particular, but the care and support he showed for everyone on that team

James described his ability to get messages to young men without yelling and screaming was “profound.”

“I was talking to one of the boys he played in that game about his pre-game speech,” James said.

“He’s like ‘I just remember how he went through and spoke to every player like ‘James you are going to run and try your best today’.

“He went through every individual player with an individual note for them and without raising his voice or swearing or kind of getting aggressive.

“To be talking about it seven years later it obviously had an impact for us. It wasn’t any genius stuff necessarily but just the way he carried himself and the way he went about it.

“A lot of coaches, particularly when you are working with young men, it is about just yelling and screaming and whatever but he just had a way to impact without doing that which is pretty profound I think.”

Jase Nelson in late 2022. Picture: Tony Gough

HELPING HAND

Jase’s caring nature continued until the very end.

James made his senior debut for Geelong Ammos last year not long after Jase was diagnosed with AML and towards the end of the season he kicked his first goal.

After Riley sent through a video of the milestone to his father, James received video of his own from Jase from his hospital bed.

“He was in hospital dealing with the biggest battle of his life and he sent me back a video message of just saying how proud he was for me to be not only playing seniors but to kick a goal,” James said.

During one period where Jase was in and out of hospital, James was overawed by another act of kindness.

Jase had found out that James was coaching the Ammos under-16 side and was eager to give him advice.

Jase had limited time at home for that trip down from hospital in Melbourne to Geelong, but he still managed to give James all the time in the world.

“He’s like ‘I heard you’re coaching a team, I’d love to share what I’ve learned’,” James explained.

“So I went over and just spent a couple of hours with him just telling me all he could about what he’d learned since he’d been involved in footy and just trying to help me do my best as a coach this year.

“I think those kind of things were not only, he was doing things to other people, but even in this last year and a bit when he’s been having the hardest time of his life he is out thinking about other people and trying to help them.”

Originally published as Geelong figure Jase Nelson tragically passes away from cancer, aged 53