Collingwood president Jeff Browne has praised the football club for its support after announcing he is on the road to recovery from “incurable” cancer.
Browne, 72, revealed his battle with cancer after Collingwood’s victory in the 2023 AFL Grand Final, vowing to beat the disease.
The club chairman, also known as the father of football reporter Tom Browne, has been diagnosed with myeloma, a form of blood cancer that develops from plasma cells in the bone marrow.
“It’s currently incurable and that’s a shock to everyone,” Browne said.
He recently broke his silence about his condition and has undergone six chemotherapy treatments, with two remaining, citing his beloved Collingwood as an inspiration.
Now he has delivered the incredible news that his cancer can be cured after all.
“Three weeks ago I was told I’m (in) early remission, so the progress is really positive,” Browne told the Herald Sun.
“(It) has chosen the wrong body to locate itself (in).”
Jeff Browne suffers from myeloma, a form of blood cancer that starts in the bone marrow
Browne (left) told the Magpies players about his diagnosis in line with the open and shared culture created by coach Craig McRae (right)
Although myeloma is considered incurable, there are treatments available that often lead to remission, relieving the signs and symptoms of the cancer.
Despite battling cancer and undergoing chemotherapy, Browne remained steadfast in his role as president during Collingwood’s premiership victory last September.
‘When you are diagnosed with cancer, you probably think about how to reorganize your life. You get a little bit of fatigue and things like that,” he said.
“I remember coming back to Collingwood on the first day the boys came back for (pre-season) training, and I was standing on the boundary (at the club’s headquarters).
Browne (pictured receiving treatment in hospital) has remained optimistic despite being told his cancer is incurable
Browne (pictured with Collingwood stars after a match) said the support from the players at the club had helped lay the platform for his recovery
“The boys ran off (the ground) and the Daicos boys, Brayden Maynard, Darcy (Moore) and a few other boys came over and gave me a hug on the boundary. I said, ‘That’s better than any medicine they can give me.’ I didn’t expect it, it just happened.’
Browne attributed his decision to reveal his battle with cancer to the Collingwood players before the preliminary final against GWS to the culture of openness and acceptance of vulnerabilities fostered by coach Craig McRae.
“The reason I spoke to them before the preliminary final was not to make them feel sorry for me, or to make them try harder,” he said.
“It was us telling each other things like that, and that got me pretty excited and raring to go.”
Collingwood supporters can celebrate their premiership again tonight when the flag is unfurled at the MCG
Former Magpie Brodie Grundy (left) will face his old club after a strong display for his new club Sydney against another former club, Melbourne
Collingwood will take on the Sydney Swans at the MCG tonight, including former teammate Brodie Grundy, who was impressive in the Swans’ first round win against the Melbourne Demons.
Grundy will face Collingwood, who he left at the end of 2022 before his frustrating season with the Demons.
“Last year, King’s Birthday, he was excited to play against us, and he just wore different colors,” McRae said of Grundy.
“He’s an elite player… we’ve always known that. We never said he isn’t.
‘He is so important for the approvals, last week he had nine.
“He brings a different dynamic to the Swans and we have Darcy Cameron. He had one of his better games for a long time, so it will be a great game.”