Melbourne City striker melts hearts as boyfriend battling cancer proposes at her last game before retirement
TEARFUL Rhali Dobson rounded off her final game as a Melbourne City player with a heartwarming moment with boyfriend Matt Stonham.
Dobson is retiring to care for Matt, who is being treated for brain cancer.
And the striker was left stunned when he proposed during her team’s clash with Perth Glory.
The W-League heroine, 28, netted the opener in Melbourne’s 2-1 win against their rivals and ran to the corner to celebrate with Matt who was cheering from the sidelines.
And Dobson was moved to tears when her partner got down on bended knee on the pitch to ask the love of his life to marry him.
Dobson told ESPN: “I don't feel like I'm ready to retire but sometimes life makes those choices for you.
"But with everything going on it's a decision that has to happen -- because it's bigger than the game.”
“Matt and I are very open about everything. He was diagnosed with brain cancer six years ago after a seizure on the soccer field when he was playing.
"He had brain surgery and that was successful and then he elected to stay on just having reviews with oncology after everything went so well the first time.
"He was having a checkup and they noticed a bit more activity in a very small area [of his brain] back in February.
"Then we got the news two days after I got back down here to Melbourne that the part that they took out -- which they got all of, which is fantastic -- had transitioned to a grade III brain tumour.
"So, he now starts aggressive radiotherapy until the end of May and then he'll start aggressive chemotherapy for 12 months.
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"We've caught things exceptionally early, he's on the very positive end of the scale because of his age.
"He had no other signs or symptoms, it was for him a routine check-up.
"This is bigger than the sport. He is my absolute world.”
Dobson, who began her senior playing career at 16 at Newcastle Jets, moved to Melbourne City in 2017.
The Australia forward made 44 appearances netting three goals for the club prior to her decision to retire at 28.
Dobson appeared visibly emotional after her partner Matt’s proposal.
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And the couple were swarmed by the striker’s team-mates and family who congratulated them.
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