AFTER four months of chemotherapy, and other equally nasty treatments for cancer, Leongatha Under 18s footballer Xavier Bolge received the all-clear from his medicos at the Monash Children’s Hospital in June this year.
On Saturday, when he ran out to join his teammates for the first time this season, in their match against Morwell, it was a survival celebration of the highest order, embraced by everyone, the club and the whole community.
“Yeah, pretty good, a bit sore in the legs, but good, yeah,” said an elated Bolge in the Leongatha rooms after the seniors’ game, still surrounded by some of his Thirds’ teammates, as they listened to the after-match remarks by Parrots’ head coach Trent McMicking.
“I just want to acknowledge Xavier Bolge as well and thank him for the way he has brought the whole club together with his journey and getting back out on the ground here again today,” said McMicking.
The applause rang out from a packed green and gold rooms after a day to remember, one that transcended footy but also underscored the community of sport as well.
But there have been some dark days too.
Seventeen-year-old Xavier was diagnosed with a relatively rare form of cancer in February this year, Hodgkin Lymphoma, affecting an estimated 700 people nationwide each year, typically at a much older age.
Bad news travelled fast, with murmurs of concern throughout the community earlier in the year.
From a well-known local sporting family, including parents Tim ‘Yakka’ and Kirsty Bolge, Xavier has played all his footy with the Parrots, Under 10s, 12s, 14s and 16s right through to the Under 18s, so there was always going to be a role for the Parrots to play.
“If you’re going to get cancer, Hodgkin Lymphoma, as opposed to Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, is probably the one to get. Very treatable with good long-term prospects,” said Xavier’s father Tim, watching on at the footy on Saturday.
But it’s still cancer, right, and the diagnosis in one so young still came as a shock.
“He’s continued going to school, but the week of the chemo not so much, but the steroids that went with it were worse if anything,” said Tim.
“But the Monash Children’s has been excellent. Couldn’t have been in better hands.
“He’s never missed a training, though, and everyone at the club has been fantastic, but today was his first game back. Just good to get out there but to kick a goal and have everyone get around him was great.”
The seniors and reserves formed a guard of honour when Xavier and his teammates came off after their nine-goal win and South Gippsland Umpires Association panel member, Jesse Boyd, himself a former Leongatha junior footballer, presented Xavier with the game ball afterwards.
It was an important day for the club, for Xavier and Xavier’s family but the Under 18s will now be looking forward to three winnable games ahead of the finals and the prospect, especially if they get some of their Gippsland Power players back, a genuine tilt at the premiership in 2023.
