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By Owen Leonard
September 21, 2025 — 9.00am
While he has a handful of best and fairests and a Sandover Medal to his name, Haiden Schloithe’s lofty on-field accolades are dwarfed by his most recent achievement: overcoming testicular cancer to feature for South Fremantle in Sunday’s WAFL grand final clash with East Perth.
Such a scenario was inconceivable when the 32-year-old was diagnosed in January. At that time, it was highly unlikely he would play football again this year, he was told.
South Fremantle star Haiden Schloithe has overcome testicular cancer to play in the 2025 WAFL grand final against East Perth.Credit: Instagram
Following “a challenging few months” – including surgery to remove a malignant tumour and three rounds of chemotherapy – the Katanning product received an earlier-than-expected green light to resume football.
Schloithe made an inspiring comeback at reserves level in June, before breaking into the Souths senior side two weeks later. He’s featured in every match since, and is now a step away from claiming a second WAFL premiership with the Bulldogs, who have dropped just one match all year.
Schloithe’s remarkable cancer comeback has rightly served as the supreme storyline in the lead-up to the decider at Optus Stadium. But 9News Perth has unearthed an untold tale from his short-lived AFL career at Fremantle, after he was drafted with pick 26 of the 2011 rookie draft.
His first mistake wouldn’t come on the training track, but in the car park. Schloithe drove into Dockers headquarters with West Coast Eagles number plates.
Haiden Schloithe will take to the field for South Fremantle is this weekend’s WAFL grand final.Credit: Instagram
As if that wasn’t bold enough, he then settled on a spot reserved for captain Matthew Pavlich. Suffice to say his new teammates weren’t impressed.
“There’s a lot of truth to that story,” Schloithe said.
“The family are one-eyed Eagles supporters. Dad had a car with Eagles number plates, and I was lucky enough to get it handed over to me when I got my licence.
“Me being a young bloke, not thinking too much into it, the only car park that was reserved was Pav’s, and I ended up parking there with Eagles number plates. It wasn’t a great start to the Freo journey.
“I ended up just going into a meeting and I reckon Aaron Sandilands unscrewed the number plates.
“We were sitting down in the meeting, and there were my number plates. I had to actually park in the South Fremantle area for a few weeks until I got new number plates.
“It’s a pretty funny story I look back on and laugh at now.”
Schloithe never played a game for the Dockers, and was delisted at the end of 2013.
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But he has since enjoyed a glittering state-league career, etching his name into the South Fremantle record books as one of the club’s greatest. He is level with the legendary Stephen Michael as being crowned club champion a record five times.
Schloithe has given thought to the fairytale ending on offer, should the Bulldogs – as expected – defeat the Royals to claim a 15th WAFL flag.
“I haven’t made any formal decisions yet,” he said.
“But I’m definitely closer to the finish than I am the start. To win a premiership this year would be, potentially, a nice way to finish.
“It’d be a pretty special way to end a pretty challenging year. Fingers crossed it all goes well on the day, but I’m only one of 22 blokes out there trying to win the flag.”
The 2025 Sullivan Logistics WAFL Grand Final kicks off at 9am at Optus Stadium with the reserves, followed by the Colts and then the main game at 3.20pm.
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