Shaun Baxter

[Eagle_Fan]

Meant to post this earlier, but it completely slipped my mind.

I think to many people Baxter is known as 'the cancer kid in Year of the Dogs', and while his AFL career was effectively ended by the disease, it's great to see him making progress. While travelling this year, he was talked into trying to get a game at East Perth. He broke into the seniors during the season and yesterday helped them to their third flag in a row in his 12th game for the club.

I love a good news story.

 

[Chicago1]

Good guys do finish first sometimes!

Thanks for the update, Eagle_Fan.

I posted a thread about an article in the Herald Sun regarding Shaun about ten days ago. It made my weekend just reading that he's come along so well. Unfortunately the article isn't online anymore.

The good news about him being in a GF winning team certainly puts the icing on the cake, even though I was South Freo Bulldog supporter when I lived in Perth! The Royals winning a third consecutive GF? Gosh, things have changed in 13 years!

 

[littlenails]

Here is an article on the subject

From the West Australian newspaper
Baxter in bonus territory By Ross Lewis
SHAUN BAXTER doesn't need a premiership medallion to prove he is a winner.

The East Perth utility player has already conquered the biggest challenge life can present - cancer.

His mere presence on a football field is miraculous.

Because of the disease, doctors advised Baxter not to engage in any sport until he was at an age when he would have been too old to play at all.

Baxter defied the medical opinion and is striving to live out a dream by making the Royals' line-up for Sunday's WAFL grand final against West Perth at Subiaco Oval.

And the 24-year-old hopes success with the Royals will boost his bid to return to AFL ranks.

In 1996, Baxter was embarking on an AFL career with Western Bulldogs. A week before the start of the season he had what was thought to be a cyst on his neck examined by a specialist.

The lump was later identified as being part of an operable tumour that was attached to the nerves where his brain connects to the spine.

He underwent intensive chemotherapy, lost 14kg in six weeks, suffered burns on his chest and lost clumps of hair.

But during the treatment Baxter never lost his desire to return to the game he loved.

"I didn't really recognise what it was and I didn't want to know much about it," Baxter said. "I looked on it as an injury I would have had when I played. I wanted to get it over and done with so I could get back to playing footy.

"Telling an 18-year-old he can't play sport is pretty tough. I thought striving to play again was a good way for me to get back on with my life."

Baxter was so fatigued by the treatment he lacked the strength to break into the Dogs line-up and was delisted at the end of 1997. He was later added to Geelong's rookie list but could not get fit enough for the AFL.

So he packed up his belongings and went on an around-Australia football odyssey that has included stops in Wagga, Darwin and now Perth.

A friendship with East Perth premiership players Caine Hayes and Kaine Marsh enticed Baxter to the Royals where he has played 11 games this season. "Coming to East Perth gave me an opportunity to play high level footy again," he said.

"It has enabled me to build some confidence so I can have another crack at the AFL. I'm only 24 and I don't think the AFL is beyond me.

"I'm fitter and stronger than I have ever been, even better than I was when I was first drafted."

Baxter's cancer is in remission but he must still be careful with his health, particularly what he eats.

"I had check-ups once a month for five years," he said. "Now it's every six months. It's good that I don't have to worry about the expenses every month now because it's quite a costly experience.

"But I suppose it's a small price to pay for your life."


September 19, 2002

His team East Perth won the Grand Final last Saturday and Baxter played well.

 

[Iso]

Thanks for those reports guys............great news.

 

[Bulldogsroar]

baxter retires

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