Terrible news. Condolences to the young fellas family.
Footy champ loses fight for life
By NIGEL ADLAM
6 Feb 2007
http://ntnews.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,7034,21178020%5E13569,00.html
ONE of the Territory's brightest young footballers has died of cancer at the age of 19.
Mark McCasker had hoped he would recover to play for Southern Districts in the NTFL again.
"It wasn't to be,'' his father and club president Ray said last night.
"I would have done anything to save him.''
Mr McCasker, who owns the Virginia Tavern, on the outskirts of Darwin, said a doctor had predicted Mark would survive and be ready for pre-season training.
"We really thought he would get well.''
Mark was diagnosed with cancer during the June long weekend last year. He died at a Melbourne private hospital on Sunday night.
Mark, who lived in the Territory from the age of three, captained the NT primary school side and went on to join the NT Institute of Sport.
"Many kids love football, but he was mad about it,'' Mr McCasker said.
"Whenever we drove anywhere, the first thing he would throw in the car was a footy.''
The Territory's youth Australian rules football coach Damian Hale said: "This is a terrible tragedy. He comes from an outstanding Territory family -- his mum and dad are rippers. They were willing to spend every cent they had to get him well.''
One of Mark's mates, Tom Fiddock, flew to Melbourne to be with him when he died.
Mark will be buried near his birthplace on Phillip Island on Friday.
Absolute trajedy. Hearts go out to the family and the whole NT footy community. Blokes shouldn't go so early
