Jobe Watson was just a young player making his way in the AFL when the first ‘Clash for Cancer’ took place.

Ten years on, the game continues to grow in significance. 

“It’s a great game to be a part of.  It’s something that was probably borne out of just a simple idea,” Watson said.

“It’s become really significant and the cause is obviously something that affects everyone so there is no one in society that isn’t touched in some form by it.”

Watson was a teammate of Adam Ramanauskas who was first diagnosed with cancer in 2003 at the peak of his footballing powers.

“There was this feeling of shock,” Watson said.

“It brought the group very close together and he was, and is, a much loved figure at Essendon.”

As part of an effort to support their mate, Essendon players wore yellow armbands for a match in 2006, despite the threat of an AFL fine.

 “It was just a simple gesture that ‘Solly’ (Dean Solomon) was advocating for it to be worn and that was the idea behind it,” Watson said.

“It’s become a very special and important day for the Essendon Football Club.”

The Melbourne Football Club has also played its part in raising funds and awareness and will continue that tradition when it meets the Bombers on Saturday.

“This weekend is quite significant with it being the 10 year mark,” Melbourne Captain Nathan Jones said.

“Football and athletes are insignificant when you hear about the true heroes that are the people that fight the battles with cancer.”

One of those ‘heroes’ is Liam Evans.

A year after the inaugural ‘Clash for Cancer’ he was diagnosed with leukemia.

He was ten years old.

“There was three years of chemo and a few more years of Doctors visits,” he said.

“You just have to keep going I guess, you don’t really have a choice.” 

Last year, Liam had his last Doctor’s visit and at 19, he’s been given the all clear.

Throughout his treatment, Adam Ramanauskas was an inspiration.

“It really showed you that you could get through it,” he said.

“And not just to get through it but to be really successful.”

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