Lilydale and Old Scotch will come together on Saturday to remember one of their own, Keian Brown.
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A former premiership player at both clubs, Brown died from brain cancer aged 26 in 2019 and was described by mum Mel Roughley as "the life of the party".
"Football was his life, one of the photos I have on the wall, he's probably only three years old and he's holding a football way back then," she said.
"Every time I talked to him, he was going to training or off to play a game or asking me to come and watch a game."
Estimating she watched almost all of his games, Roughley will be at Lilydale on Saturday to present a memorial medal, given to the player from either side who typifies Brown's spirit.
The two clubs also play for a cup in his memory, combining the seniors and reserves score with the highest aggregate taking home the honour, which Lilydale won in 2019 but Old Scotch defeated the Demons in both seniors and reserves in their earlier 2021 meeting.
"I don't think I could possibly be more proud [of the clubs]," Roughley said.
"It's not something they do for everyone, I'm sure they've had a lot of people in their club pass away or have accidents or whatnot but Keian is the one they've chosen to do this for."
Roughley and Lilydale's Zac Deane, who became mates with Brown in high school, agreed that life without him is tough.
"If it wasn't for Keian's mates checking up, ringing or coming and seeing me, I don't think I could keep going. It's been two and a half years and I think every day it gets harder," Roughley said.
Deane added: "It's hard at times, especially when it comes to the crunch time of the week at training on Tuesday nights, he was always one of the ones that drives you to get to training and keeps you motivated and you feed off his energy.
"Obviously not being able to live with him anymore or have him around on the weekend or go to the beach, take his dog for a run, that sort of stuff is quite hard.
"Especially because I still visit more of the places that we did with my young family now, he hasn't had the opportunity to do that which is pretty sad."
Old Scotch stalwart Tom Pedley shared the priceless memory of the 2016 premiership victory with Brown but it was on the jobsite they bonded more, mentoring him through his apprenticeship, which he completed before he died.
"He was hilarious, a very funny man who was always upbeat and always ready for work," Pedley said.
"He didn't have his car once for a long time and he used to skateboard along from Prospect to South Launceston.
"Every morning at six o'clock he'd leave home and meet me down there at seven."
During the games, the clubs will be raising money for Carrie's Beanies for Brain Cancer, with collection tins stationed around the ground and $5 from every Lilydale beanie sold going towards the charity.