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'He was my rock': Fraser Rosman, Oskar Baker and the Pink Lady match

Grapeviney
in Melbourne Demons

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It's the Pink Lady match this week in support of the BCNA breast cancer cause, which the club has been involved with since 2005 iirc.

The connection is personal for the Dees on a couple of levels. Oskar Baker's mum was a breast cancer survivor, who sadly lost her life to bone cancer a few years later.

And the ambassador this year is Fraser Rosman's mum Trudy,  who was diagnosed just before COVID hit, and whose past year has included 16 rounds of chemotherapy, surgery, 15 rounds of radiation, Fraser finishing year 12 and then him being drafted by the MFC.

From the HS article:

As Covid hit Melbourne, Fraser waited until after 10pm – once everyone had gone home – to do his running training at a local football ground to keep his immune-compromised mum safe.

They spent his 18th birthday together with a supermarket cake at the kitchen table, because Ms Rosman was so sick after chemo.

“He was my absolute rock. I had times when I was certainly down, and days where I just didn’t want to go to treatment,” she said. “He would tell me, ‘you got it early, you can do it, you’ll be all right’.”

For Fraser, knowing his mum had finished treatment when he fulfilled his football ambition as pick 32 in the AFL draft, helped atone for the tough year.

“When my name got called out I was ecstatic. When mum was told she was cancer free, that was spectacular as well,” he said.

Ms Rosman said while news of being cancer free didn’t instantly erase the lingering worries and treatment side effects, she was looking forward to turning her attention to Fraser’s football ­career.

“I do feel some guilt over the last 12 months and what he’s had to go through. It’s not really fair. He was only 17. It was a lot on him,” she said. “I can’t wait to sit back and see where this footy journey takes him.”

You can donate to BCNA here: Pink Lady Match

Edited by Grapeviney

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    Well Rosman just became one of my favorites ... what a champion young man 

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    Wow I hope that Fraser's Mum is 100% clear and can enjoy watching her son develop a very successful and long career with the MFC

    Fraser obviously has a great deal of character - fingers crossed for a bright future for both he and his Mum  

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    I feel this event over the years has been pushed into the background. I know covid affects these things but I remember years ago the breast cancer game would be massive. Now you get a weeks notice and a little bit of media and that's it. 

    although I think Baker was on afl360 the other night talking about his experience watching his mum sadly succumb to it. 

    Edited by dees189227

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    1 hour ago, Grapeviney said:

    It's the Pink Lady match this week in support of the BCNA breast cancer cause, which the club has been involved with since 2005 iirc.

    The connection is personal for the Dees on a couple of levels. Oskar Baker's mum was a breast cancer survivor, who sadly lost her life to bone cancer a few years later.

    And the ambassador this year is Fraser Rosman's mum Trudy,  who was diagnosed just before COVID hit, and whose past year has included 16 rounds of chemotherapy, surgery, 15 rounds of radiation, Fraser finishing year 12 and then him being drafted by the MFC.

    From the HS article:

    As Covid hit Melbourne, Fraser waited until after 10pm – once everyone had gone home – to do his running training at a local football ground to keep his immune-compromised mum safe.

    They spent his 18th birthday together with a supermarket cake at the kitchen table, because Ms Rosman was so sick after chemo.

    “He was my absolute rock. I had times when I was certainly down, and days where I just didn’t want to go to treatment,” she said. “He would tell me, ‘you got it early, you can do it, you’ll be all right’.”

    For Fraser, knowing his mum had finished treatment when he fulfilled his football ambition as pick 32 in the AFL draft, helped atone for the tough year.

    “When my name got called out I was ecstatic. When mum was told she was cancer free, that was spectacular as well,” he said.

    Ms Rosman said while news of being cancer free didn’t instantly erase the lingering worries and treatment side effects, she was looking forward to turning her attention to Fraser’s football ­career.

    “I do feel some guilt over the last 12 months and what he’s had to go through. It’s not really fair. He was only 17. It was a lot on him,” she said. “I can’t wait to sit back and see where this footy journey takes him.”

    You can donate to BCNA here: Pink Lady Match

    Thanks Grapeviney I just donated for a spot for my wife Jan who survived breast cancer in 2014.

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    ?‍♀ Breast cancer survivor over here. Thank you so much, Grapeviney. Thank you for that beautiful post. As a ‘survivor’ it’s heartwarming and humbling to know that so many people care. ?

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    Great to see that the Dees are committed to supporting the pink lady match.  I donated today and urge others to do the same. Love to see the Dees Pink-V Jumper and help raise money to fight the horrid C. 

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    1 hour ago, WalkingCivilWar said:

    ?‍♀ Breast cancer survivor over here. Thank you so much, Grapeviney. Thank you for that beautiful post. As a ‘survivor’ it’s heartwarming and humbling to know that so many people care. ?

    Great to hear you beat it. It’s a horrible disease. My brother wife died from it at age 34 leaving two young children behind. She suffered terribly in her final months. The Pink Lady appeal is the worthiest of causes. 

    Edited by John Crow Batty

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    20 minutes ago, John Crow Batty said:

    Great to hear you beat it. It’s a horrible disease. My brother wife died from it at age 34 leaving two young children behind. She suffered terribly in her final months. The Pink Lady appeal is the worthiest of causes. 

    34 years old ?  Tragic at any age but that’s so young.

    Like many, I always sing the praises of Glenn McGrath. Have always been a fan anyways, but especially since he’s carried on Jane’s legacy. But everyday people deserve huge thanks also, for example, for participating in this annual Pink Lady match. SO proud to follow a team that is dedicated to this cause. ❀?Like I need another reason to love the Dees. ?

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    What a wonderful young man to support his mum like that 

    All the beat Fraser (and mum) in all your endeavours 

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    3 hours ago, John Crow Batty said:

    Great to hear you beat it. It’s a horrible disease. My brother wife died from it at age 34 leaving two young children behind. She suffered terribly in her final months. The Pink Lady appeal is the worthiest of causes. 

    I remembered hearing a football writer/commentator (can’t remember who) say that every week there was a “worthy cause” connected to matches which diluted what footy was about, “forgetting you troubles for a few hours and having some fun”. COVID has meant that all too often we see the results of the pandemic with less or no crowds, so our troubles never seem to escape us in that respect. I can only imagine what it must be like for those fighting breast cancer or family members affected by it, and I doubt that footy fully distracts from it. 

    This is such a worth cause and I am so proud that our club has been at the forefront of standing in tribute to those fighting and those who have passed away, and I can only hope that at the same time we raise some $$$ to aid in the R&D of treatment and a cure. 

    Fraser Rossman hasn’t even played a game for us but he’s already got a gun a bloke and I’m happy he’s a Demon. 

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