A beloved Melbourne footballer is being mourned after his tragic death from an extremely rare form of cancer last week, with his loved ones giving him a special musical gesture on the day he passed away.
Damien Scully was diagnosed with a grade 4 diffuse midline glioma – an aggressive brain tumour – in 2024 when he fell seriously ill after playing a game of Aussie Rules.
He lost his battle with the disease last week, leaving behind shattered family, friends, teammates and his fiancée Layla Kelly, whom he proposed to in December last year.
Scully was a favourite son of the Pearcedale Football Club on Melbourne’s Mornington Peninsula, having been around the team his entire life.
Scully’s friend Kristie Wyatt has posted a video to Instagram showing the moment the 28-year-old had the Pearcedale team song piped into his hospital room while he was surrounded by loved ones just before he passed away.
‘Pearcedale footy club was where the love of football started for Damo,’ Wyatt wrote.
Beloved footy player Damien Scully lost his cancer battle last week. He’s pictured with his fiancée Layla Kelly after proposing in December last year
The highly respected footballer had been around Melbourne’s Pearcedale football club for his entire life
Pictured: A still from a video showing Scully’s loved ones gathered around him in hospital as the Pearcedale team song was played on the day he passed away
‘And life long mates and friendships were made. We played this song for Damo on his last day.’
Scully’s death was marked with a heartbreaking tribute from the Pearcedale club.
‘Damo has been a part of our club for his whole life and was a much loved member of the Dales family,’ the team wrote on Facebook.
‘His presence, friendship and contribution to our club over the years will never be forgotten.
‘Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with Damo’s fiancée Layla, Paula, Kristie, Aaron and Gerard as well as his extended family, friends and everyone who knew and loved him during this incredibly difficult time.
‘Damo will be deeply missed by us all, and his memory will always remain a part of our club.
‘Rest easy, Damo. Forever a Dale.’
Scully also played for the Pines Football Club from 2019 to 2021, with the team describing him as a ‘lovely, happy, caring and honest young man with an incredibly infectious smile and bubbly personality’ in their tribute.
Scully has also been fondly remembered by the Fish Creek and Pines clubs
Kelly called her man ‘a wonderful partner, a devoted family member and a dear friend’ when she started a GoFundMe for him in 2024
He also turned out for the Fish Creek Kangaroos in Gippsland, with the club writing he made a ‘profound impact’ during his time there, during which the team won the premiership in 2023.
In January this year, Scully posted a heartwarming update as he packed as much as possible into the time left to him.
‘Over a year on from a stage 4 brain cancer diagnosis, I’m living life to the absolute fullest,’ he wrote.
‘So grateful for another birthday with my family and friends, and beyond thankful that the love of my life said yes to marrying me.
‘We’ve had an incredible time lately. Here’s a small glimpse of the memories we’re making.’
The post featured photos of Scully sharing tender moments with Kelly, holidaying in Japan, skiing, fishing and being with his family and friends.
Kelly offered an insight into her man’s health battle when she kicked off a GoFundMe drive for him in 2024.
‘One Saturday after a football game Damien became acutely unwell and a CT scan revealed he had a bleed in his brain,’ Kelly wrote.
‘His doctors suspected a lesion underneath but could not be certain until the blood had cleared. We were sent home with a follow up MRI scheduled 6 weeks later to hopefully get a clearer image of what was underneath.’
Kelly revealed that Scully fell ill again a month later, prompting doctors to take a biopsy, with the shattering cancer diagnosis following in a few days.
‘If you know Dame then I don’t even have to explain how special he is,’ she wrote.
‘He is a wonderful partner, a devoted family member and a dear friend.
‘It’s no doubt he’s left an imprint on your heart.’
