An AFL WAG, who faced a dire cancer diagnosis after doctors discovered a tumor the size of a tennis ball in her colon at the age of 25, has astonishingly celebrated her 30th birthday.

Kellie Finlayson, wife of Jeremy Finlayson, a former forward for Port Adelaide in the AFL, confessed on Sunday that she was emotionally struggling as her milestone birthday approached.

In 2021, shortly after welcoming their daughter Sophia, Kellie began to experience symptoms initially attributed to the typical strains of new motherhood.

“As a new mom, many things didn’t feel right,” Kellie recalled at the time.

“I was constantly tired, had stomach pains, noticed changes in my bowel movements, and was losing weight—all symptoms that seemed ‘normal’ for a new mom,” she explained.

But then she spotted blood in her stools.

Kellie Finlayson (pictured) celebrated her 30th birthday on a weekend away – surrounded by her family and gifts

Kellie enjoyed a slice of birthday cake alongside husband Jeremy and daughter Sophia

‘After a few days of it occurring regularly, Jeremy told me to go see a doctor to see if it was still normal, and to stop relying on Dr Google,’ she said.

After waking up from a colonoscopy to the news she had cancer, her world came crashing down.

A year-and-a-half later, cancer was found in her lung – meaning the disease had progressed to stage four, and was terminal.

Rather than accepting her fate, Kellie became a relentless campaigner for raising awareness about the early signs of bowel cancer, raised her daughter, and supported her husband – all with a cruel death sentence hanging over her head.

Now, she has celebrated her 30th birthday – an age few thought she would ever see.

‘I made it!’ she posted to Instagram on Sunday to her 77,000 followers.

‘I (expected) to feel a decade older the moment I woke up. I didn’t, obviously,’ she said.

‘I was spiralling the day before, not because I didn’t want to enter my 30s. I more than anyone know ageing is a privilege.

The young mum has defied medical assessment that she would not live to see her 30s

She was touched by a handwritten card from four-year-old Sophia

‘It was more around the fact that four years ago, no one, including myself, thought that I would turn 30.

‘But I did, I am here, and I plan to see 40, 50 and 60, too.’

Kellie marked the milestone during a weekend away with Jeremy, 29, and Sophia, four.

It appeared they rented a tiny home in the bush, with Kellie sharing pictures of herself snuggling in bed and in an outdoor bathtub with her daughter, and enjoying a family dinner, along with a sweet card written by Sophia.

The family lives in Adelaide after marrying in 2023. Jeremy was delisted by Port in August.

Friends were quick to offer their congratulations to Kellie, including fellow former WAG Bel Gray – wife to former Port superstar Robbie Gray.

‘This is my early RSVP to your 90th. I’ll still be alive drinking champagne,’ she wrote.

AFL star Willie Rioli and TV host Jessica Rowe also offered well wishes.

Recently, Kellie was well enough to make the 20-hour journey from South Australia to Dallas, Texas, where she visited the Fort Worth stockyards and attended a Dallas Cowboys NFL game.

In August, she shared a photo to social media revealing she had returned to her role as a mathematics teacher after three years.

Kellie is determined to reach her 40s and beyond despite suffering terminal bowel cancer

She has become a public face for early detection of the disease, sharing her symptoms

Kellie couldn’t hide her excitement at being back in the classroom as she posed for a radiant selfie after getting dressed for work.

‘First day back on the tools in three years,’ Kellie wrote next to the photo.

She also shared a clip of herself sitting in her car, applying make-up and glamming up ahead of the big day.

But it hasn’t all been smooth sailing in recent months for Kellie, who published a memoir in July titled There Must Be More.

In November, she lashed out at horrific trolls who have made disgusting accusations that she doesn’t have cancer.

On social media, she said she was infuriated by those who had falsely claimed her healthy appearance meant that she was no longer battling the disease.

Her Instagram post read, ‘Guys, a bit of a rant.

‘In short, I’m a true crime podcast fiend, but often – and especially with medical fraud cases – the narrative rubs me the wrong way far too many times to not comment on it.

Kellie was a fixture in the Adelaide Oval stands when her husband played for Port Power

She lashed out at trolls who said she doesn’t have cancer because she doesn’t look sick

‘Firstly, yes, there are terrible, narcissistic people in the world, I’m not saying there isn’t!

‘BUT when an investigator being interviewed says: ‘The first thing that led me into the case was the way she looked, the way she held herself and the way she showed up in public spaces and online claiming she just hoped no one would go through what she could go through, that no one would feel as sick as she did or grieve the life they thought, they’d have, the things they’d miss of their children’s life etc,’ like that COULDN’T POSSIBLY be someone’s reality?’

She added: ‘[That] p***ed me right off. Obviously, because I am that person.

‘Yes, it’s frustrating that people would use it as a scam which then leads to me being questioned on my legitimacy, it also p***ed that the narrative is that if you don’t look or act sick, at all times, an investigation is necessary.

‘It’s literally my job to stand in rooms and prove that there is no image of health or illness; it looks different on everyone.

‘To remind people that no one is immune from chronic illness.’

She added: ‘Ugh, rant over.’

In the same week, Finlayson attended the Melbourne Cup and dazzled, wearing a long blue dress as she danced to Taylor Swift’s hit The Fate of Ophelia. The clip cut to footage of Finlayson dancing to the same song while receiving treatment.

She was hailed by many for her bravery and her desire to keep a positive attitude.

Kellie turned heads in a pretty blue number at the Melbourne Cup last month

‘Amazing it cannot be easy but you’re giving it everything,’ a third commented.

‘Never the victim…always the warrior! What a role model you are for your beautiful girl,’ another added.

In July, Kellie appeared on Jess Rowe’s Big Talk Show podcast Safe Space series, revealing that she was ‘thriving’ following her diagnosis.

‘It completely comes from mindset,’ she said.

‘I feel like I still live each day the same as I used to, if not with more life, if that makes sense,’ she said.

‘I turned a really s***ty situation into a pretty incredible one and a really powerful one with a lot of purpose.’

Meanwhile, her husband is beginning a new season in his own life after his emotional delistment from his AFL team, signing up to play for the Myponga-Sellicks footy club for their 2026 campaign.

After joining the Power in 2022 following a seven-year stint at GWS, he played 62 matches at Port, but injuries and struggles with his form meant he only made eight appearances at league level last year.

‘It’s going to be great for our younger players coming through and our junior kids as well to have someone like Jeremy around,’ Myponga-Sellicks coach Justin Richardson told Adelaide Now.

‘He’s got aspirations to develop his coaching as well and we want to create an environment and opportunity for him to do that.

‘Having someone with his experience will be fantastic.’

He added: ‘The whole club is really excited to have Jeremy, Kellie and their daughter Sophia on and off the field.’