TOPIC:

 



An entire WAFL team have shaved their heads in support of a champion teammate battling cancer.

South Fremantle pulled out the razors at a training session on Thursday night to boost the morale of Sandover medallist Haiden Schloithe, who has taken leave from football with illness.

The initiative was arranged by reserves coach Brad Maney and league captain Chad Pearson. More than 20 players took part.

“It was so meaningful that something as little as shaving your head and seeing how much of an impact it can have on him and his family,” Pearson told The West Australian.

“I know I brought a smile to his face he said he got a bit teary watching the video, but hopefully it just gives him something to look back on during his journey, and hopefully make the whole process a lot easier.”

Pearson said he hopes his mate will be back at the club in “no time”.

“I know he’s only got a little bit (of chemo) left, and hopefully he can be back out on the track and cancer free,” he said.

Former West Coast player Jamaine Jones said the show of support had helped lift Schloithe’s spirits.



“He got the message last night and he was loving it we just wanted to lift his spirits a little bit, that’s the main thing and that’s what this club is about,” he said.

Maney said football clubs were great at supporting their mates through tough times.

“When you work in a football club you’re looking at other ways you can support others and I felt Hayden needed just to be reminded of the love and care we’ve got the football club for him and his family,” he said.



Schloithe is a club great at South Fremantle.

The former Fremantle listed midfielder has won five best-and-fairest awards and came back from retirement — where he had been playing in his home town Katanning — at the start of last season.


“I‘ve only been at the club about 18 months, but when I arrived it was just evident straight away how powerful of a personality he is. He’s a fantastic on field performer but his ability to love and care for everyone and treat everyone equally around the whole football club probably goes above and beyond what’s normally expected,” Maney said.

“It’s pretty common in our football club for his teammates to actually idolise him, especially the younger players and I think the effort by the players is pretty evident and especially by the amount of young players that put their hand up.”

 

Kudos to the 20 SF boys for digging deep and showing their support of a SF icon in Schloithe  Considering hair loss is often regarded as a major side effect of chemotherapy.....altered body image and all that. Well done for the 20 stepping up. 

It's a pity other major common chemotherapy side effects like anaemia and blood clotting disorders are often over looked as examples of oncology support....hospitals are crying out for folk to donate blood and plasma, which are used to help mitigate these toxic side effects of chemo....not just for one but many oncology patients.

Sporting clubs/schools would be  prime places to offer their support to oncology patients.....especially when one of their own is experiencing chemo first hand.... ....imagine the good those 20 players could of done by donating 20 units of blood or plasma instead....

As much as i can't stand the bloke as a player, I do wish him all the best and hope he fully recovers. Cancer is horrible and i dont wish it on anyone

Welkl done to all you south lads for doing this