AFL WAG Kellie Finlayson has given an insight into her life as a “chronically sick girlie” as she continues her battle against bowel cancer.
Finlayson, the wife of former AFL player Jeremy Finlayson, was diagnosed with stage four terminal bowel cancer in 2021 and shared her treatment journey publicly on social media.
On Tuesday, she shared a video of herself at home using a breathing tube connected to her nose while watching the NFL game between the Buffalo Bills and LA Rams.
Finlayson captioned the video: “Monday night footy on a Tuesday as a chronically sick girlie.
“And yes I’m still sitting pretty on top of my fantasy league.”
Responding to one of her followers in the comments, Finlayson confirmed she was using a hydrogen breathing machine.
“Thinking of you always. Brave girl.,” one person commented.
“Lots of love for you Kellie,” a second said.
“Admire your strength,” said another.
The update comes after Kellie revealed she was suffering from liver failure in a Q&A on Instagram.
“I don’t think anything is ever going as to plan as anyone would let you believe, but I’m ‘OK’ in medical terms right now besides my liver playing funny buggers (failing) lol,” she wrote.
Kellie was only 25 and had just welcomed her daughter when she was diagnosed with bowel cancer.
Through the gruelling reality of almost 80 rounds of chemotherapy, she told news.com.au in April that motherhood has been the reason she’s been able to get through each day.
“I’m probably the most maternal person you’ve ever met,” Finlayson admits, noting that it was something she always knew she was born to do.
“Sophia has been the main reason I’ve been able to persevere over the past five years.”
The 30-year-old said she simply has “no choice” but to face the day, despite the exhaustion of her diagnosis, because her four-year-old daughter refuses to let her stay in bed.
“When she asks me to play with her, I simply can’t say ‘no’, because she’s just this beautiful, innocent little girl who just wants her mummy,” Finlayson shared.
She confessed that she initially brushed off “severe constipation and abdominal cramps”, assuming they were irritable bowel syndrome or post-partum symptoms.
Even when a colonoscopy was finally scheduled in 2020, Covid lockdowns caused further delays and cancelled appointments.
By the time she was finally diagnosed in 2021, the disease had already spread throughout her body.
She was told on Boxing Day 2022 that the bowel cancer she’d been fighting had metastasised to her lungs.
Her oncologist at the time recommended palliative care — a suggestion that initially led the couple to cancel their elaborate wedding.
But despite all odds, they found a new oncologist who prioritised quality of life, and moved their wedding forward to a low-key ceremony in March 2023.
Now, her public life is driven by her positivity, as well as her mission to advocate for young Aussies.
“The system still dismisses young people every single day, and it’s not good enough. It’s failing young people,” she warned.
Bowel cancer is currently the leading cause of cancer death for Australians aged 25 to 54, claiming more than 5300 lives annually.
Because symptoms can often mimic standard hormonal changes, Finlayson’s mission is to help women understand their bodies and advocate for themselves.
“I think it’s really important that we, especially as young females, understand what ‘normal’ is for us, because bowel cancer symptoms can be quite similar to a menstrual cycle,” she said.
In 2024 she said: “I want to make sure that I’m alive for a reason … if I’m alive, I might as well live.
“I’m living on borrowed time. I need to make the most of it.”
Jeremy Finlayson played 128 games in his AFL career, which came to an end at the conclusion of the 2025 season when he was delisted by Port Adelaide.
He spent five seasons at the GWS Giants and four years at the Power.
Originally published as ‘Chronically sick’ AFL WAG Kellie Finlayson gives insight into cancer battle