AFL fans paid tribute to Hawthorn star Jarryd Roughead on Friday night with a standing ovation in the second minute of the second quarter on an emotional evening at the MCG.
Roughead joined his teammates at the ground for the clash with Sydney just days after his cancer diagnosis.
The symbolic gesture from both sets of fans was a tribute to the four-time premiership champion, who wears No.2, following news earlier in the week that the melanoma he had removed last year had returned.
The club did not encourage the show of support, instead setting up a message board on their website, with Roughead keen to adopt a 'no-fuss' approach and retain a sense of normality as he underwent treatment.
Images of a smiling Roughead arriving at the Hawks' change rooms before the game quickly spread on social media. He sat in on the team meeting before taking up a position in Alastair Clarkson's coach's box as the match began.
The Hawks' cheer squad avoided any mention of the much-loved player on the pre-game banner, but the Swans sent a message of support - "We are right behind you, Roughy" on theirs.
Roughead missed two games last year when he had a melanoma removed from his lower lip.
He has been ruled out for the rest of this season after a recent scan had shown cancer had spread to other parts of his body.
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