My name is Chris Forster, I’m 16 years-old and I recently had to undergo surgery to remove a malignant bone tumour from my left leg and replace my knee and tibia with artificial metal joint and rods.

I come from the Central Coast and played footy for the Killarney Vale Bombers for 11 years.

I am an avid Sydney fan and have played AFL since I was five years old. I was feeling quite down after hearing I wouldn’t be able to play footy ever again.

On Anzac Day this year, while I was lying in a hospital bed feeling very disillusioned and bored out of my brain, I was shocked to see two of the stars of the Sydney Swans, Jared Crouch and Peter ‘Spida’ Everitt walk through the door to my room.

Jared had been to a few presentations for Killarney Vale so I had met him when I was quite a bit younger.

My dad had contacted Jared to see if he would sign a few autographs for me, but instead, I received a personal visit from him and Spida!

They were kind enough to take an hour out of their busy schedule to come in and have a chat and present me with an autographed Swans cap and poster. They were even kind enough to sign my cast.

Spida gave me a copy of his diary of his trip to Papua New Guinea, where he walked the Kokoda Trail.

The visit from Jared and Spida really brightened up a time, which until then was quite dull and disappointing.

Apart from providing moral support, Jared and Spida also helped me with suggestions of ways to stay involved with footy. They talked to me about coaching, journalism and other areas where I can stay involved with the sport I love.

I would like to thank Jared and Spida for giving up their own time to come and visit me in hospital.

Chris Forster

Thanks for sending in your first journalistic piece Chris! We are thrilled to publish it on sydneyswans.com.au and look forward to plenty more in the future.