THE Port Adelaide Football Club is sending its well wishes to six-times Premiership player Roger Delaney who is battling prostate cancer.

A reliable key defender, Delaney was a mainstay in the Magpies defence throughout the 1980s and 90s before his retirement in 1997. 

He finished on 208 games and was highly regarded for his defensive work with teammate George Fiacchi, who mentioned him during his speech when being inducted into the club’s Hall of Fame a fortnight ago.

Fiacchi recalled how they were labelled “Batman” and “Robin” because he was always Delaney’s sidekick.

“Everyone says we had this great understanding but what we did, we just knew what each other was going to do and worked to our strengths,” Fiacchi recalled.

“He’s doing it tough at the moment.

“He has an operation (on Tuesday) so Rog, I know you’re watching this mate and we’re thinking of you.”

53-year-old Delaney recently spent time with Port Adelaide’s AFL side during its pre-season camp in Noosa, where he has been living for the past nine years.

His children Cooper and Jada ran water during the Power’s training sessions.

As he prepared for Tuesday’s operation, Delaney spoke to The Advertiser to urge men to have their prostates checked.

“The one thing I hope I can get through is that if you’re in your mid-to-late 40s, just start getting a blood test every 12 to 18 months,” he said.

“I can’t stress how important it is … so they can get it (cancer) early.

“If I had left it another year, it would’ve been a year too late.”

The whole Port Adelaide Football Club family wishes Delaney well for his surgery and recovery.