It's great to be back playing with the boys. My body isn't 100 per cent but I'm getting there
- Ryan Jones
RYAN Jones will probably shed a quiet tear to himself when he runs out for Rutherglen at Barkly Park on Saturday.
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While the co-captain has always found the club's annual cancer awareness day emotional in the wake of former coach Karl Jacka's passing, the occasion has taken on a whole new meaning this season.
The 22-year-old has been waging his own battle for the past four months.
Jones found out just before Christmas he needed surgery to remove a lump from his testicle with results confirming the tumour was cancerous.
"I went onto a treatment plan and that was pretty full on," Jones said.
"I had 20-minute doses of chemo every week and then in the third week, I went into hospital for a whole week to have it every day."
After a tumultuous four months, Jones finished his treatment with blood tests and scans coming back all clear.
The apprentice electrician, who started playing for his beloved Cats as a six-year-old and has tallied 70 senior matches, made a return to the football field in the reserves against Tallangatta last weekend.
There were tears then and there will be more on Saturday.
"It's just great to be back playing with the boys," Jones said.
"My body isn't 100 per cent but I'm getting there.
"It's a big day for the club on Saturday and it will be good being a part of it.
"It definitely means a fair bit more to me just because of the way I was treated and looked after (at the Albury Wodonga Regional Cancer Centre).
"I always knew it was good, but actually being a part of it and witnessing it first-hand, (I think) it's unreal."
Rutherglen president Greg Lumby said Jones had been an inspiration to the club as he battled through the hard times.
"Ryan's a ripping young kid," Lumby said.
"Even during his treatment he was going down to training.
"Quite a few of boys shaved their heads for him as a mark of respect."
Hosting the Wodonga Saints, Rutherglen has several activities planned to raise money for the Albury Wodonga Regional Cancer Centre Trust Fund.
It includes a high tea, variety auction and comedy night, while players will also wear specially-designed jumpers to raise awareness.
The comedy night will be held from 7pm Saturday with comedians Bradley Oakes and Katie Birch.
Tickets are $30 each and available by phoning Wayne Cooper on 0439 494 027 or Shane Bainbridge on 0400 176 547.