CANCER survivor and Millicent plumber Josh Peters has probably played over 300 football games in a senior career spanning 20 years and two states but none can compare with his recent appearance in a charity game in Melbourne.
Although his personal statistics in the match were not outstanding, he relished the opportunity to play alongside some of his AFL heroes.
The Kicking for Cancer country versus city showdown on July 7 featured such retired superstars as Brendan Fevola, Dustin Fletcher and Greg Williams.
All participants raised money for the My Room – Children’s Cancer Charity which supports families with ill kids.
Peters said it was a worthy cause and playing in the match was one of his career highlights.
“I got a few touches,” Peters said.
“There were the retired AFL players as well as some of the older guys like me from the country who had survived cancer.
“There were also younger guys who had just finished their cancer treatment.”
He enjoyed the opportunity to see how the AFL greats went about playing footy.
“You could see that someone like Greg Williams was still highly competitive and does not like losing.
“There is talk of having the game again and I would like to be involved.
“The match attracted about 1500 spectators.
“With that number of retired AFL players, there would be a crowd of 5000 if it was played in Mount Gambier.”
Footage of the game was live-streamed and his supporters back in Millicent took to social media to express their support.
Peters was diagnosed with testicular cancer around a decade ago when he was aged in his mid-twenties and at the peak of his footy career at South Gambier.
Following the advice of Medical Clinic Millicent partner Dr James Bushell, he underwent a successful round of treatment which comprised surgery and chemotherapy and made a full recovery.
Now aged 36, he has fathered two daughters with his wife Sally, works full-time as a plumber with SA Water and plays every week with the Tantanoola Tigers.
Although he is stepping down from Tantanoola’s A Grade after three seasons at the end of 2019, he will maintain an active involvement with the club.
