The football community is rallying behind a former Ovens and Murray Football League star, who was originally given less than a year to live after being diagnosed with stage four cancer.
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However, Terry Greaves received better news last week when told the cancer had gone into remission and his life expectancy was now two to five years.
"He's just salt of the earth, what you see is what you get, he's just so bloody straight up and honest," long-time family friend and former Benalla team-mate Robert Dore said.
When The Border Mail contacted Terry Greaves this week, he wanted just one thing - praise for the Albury-Wodonga Regional Cancer Centre.
"It's just so good you don't have to go to Melbourne," the Milawa-based Greaves said.
"So many people, unfortunately, will use it eventually, whether it be family or friends.
"If people could please just donate something, that would be good."
Greaves has been inundated with phone calls and texts since his diagnosis in January and some in that group are now banding together to 'brainstorm,' ideas to raise funds for the Border and North East's cancer home.
They hope to have something in place within the next month.
"I'm not 100 per cent anymore, but I'm feeling 80 per cent, physically and mentally," he said.
"The first few weeks were pretty difficult, you've just got to work your way around it, you have to be positive if you can.
"All the texts, phone calls, have been really good, blokes who I thought would never ring up, have called.
"It does help your mental attitude, it takes your mind off it, it's good that people are thinking of you."
A builder, Greaves hasn't been able to work for six months.
He originally had a melanoma removed 12 years ago from his shoulder.
"The Greaves' brothers were great hay contractors, the four boys, and Terry's actually quite fair-skinned, but the hours we'd spend on tractors and the baking at the top of the hands, it was just weeks on end, every year in the blazing sun," Dore aid.
"Terry was ahead of his time, he would cover up pretty much but, as we know, it (cancer) doesn't discriminate."
He received the news around the same time he turned 59.
Greaves had a diagnosis of stage four metastatic melanoma, which had spread from the lungs to the liver, bowel, bladder, brain and bones.
"I was told if I didn't start treatments, I'd be gone in six weeks," he said matter-of-factly.
For his good mate, it's been an emotional time, but Dore's not surprised by his stoicism.
"Terry and his wife Heather have both been putting on a hell of a brave show," Dore said.
Greaves has undergone immunotherapy treatment, which has had the positive effect of 'knocking out' the tumours, but the flipside is it was damaging the liver.
"We're all kind of celebrating, like it's a win, but Terry has still been given a life expectancy of between only two to five years," Dore said.
Greaves played for a host of clubs, but was a star at Benalla, spending 14 seasons there over three stints.
Around 192cms (about six-foot four inches), but only 86kgs (13 stone, eight pounds), Greaves started with the Demons (as they were then known) in 1980 and racked up 225 games, claiming a best and fairest.
"When he started in his late teens he was all muscles and bones, but was very quick and had a raking left foot," Dore said.
"But in a short time, he developed pretty quick. What was awkward at 18 became a lethal weapon at 22.
"In 1985, he was the dominant centre half-back in the O and M.
"He was so quick, no centre half-forward could keep up with him.
"In 1985, we played Albury in a final and their coach, Russell Campbell, was the centre half-forward and he just ran to the pocket all day, just to take Terry out of the play.
"Terry was also a springboard for our attack, he could take off and wheel onto that left boot."
The Tigers went on to win the premiership.
"I can remember that game (laughs), it did work, they won," Greaves said.
'I didn't actually like Albury Footy Club, it was the only club I didn't like actually.
"They used to stick you right over the other side in the change rooms, the water used to be cold, it was terrible."
He mighn't have liked the Tigers, but they certainly respected him.
As did his many team-mates from O and M outfits Benalla and Wangaratta Rovers, along with his Ovens and King clubs, including Milawa, Moyhu and North Wangaratta.
"I had a few clubs," he laughed and only stopped playing as a fit 42-year-old.
An O and M (1985) and Tungamah rep, Greaves is also a member of the Benalla Team of the Century.
And it won't surprise anyone that in his time of need, he's thinking unselfishly of others.
"He's a much-loved, no frills character," Dore said.
"He works hard and is supportive of people around him."
Greaves also hasn't been able to drive for six months, so he's been able to work on his 69 hectare (170 acre) property at Milawa.
He only has Murray Grey cattle there because he likes to stick with the Aussie brand.
Now you can't get a more fair dinkum Aussie than that.