But she didn't die, Madeleine improved. Again. She had staved off the seemingly inevitable once more. Two weeks ago she seemed likely to return to the wards after six months in ICU. Things were looking up, but once more infection took hold, but this time it would be for the last time.

On Tuesday, five years after being diagnosed with the rare blood disease Aplastic Anaemia, Madeleine, the sister of St Kilda's Nick and the cousin of Richmond player Jack, died at the age of 26. Nick was there with her with his wife Catherine and baby son James. His mum and dad Fiona and Joe were at her bedside with Nick's brother Alex.

Madeleine's was a life of illness and fight, setback and struggle. From the time she was accidentally struck in the head as a schoolgirl by a shot put, to the moment she walked into the doctor's as a 21-year-old complaining of a flu she could not shake and was diagnosed with Aplastic Anaemia, Madeleine had been battling.

The illness robbed her of energy, stole her youth. The family moved from Queensland to Melbourne but Madeleine could not work. She retained her passion for cooking, for family dinners and for sport. All sports.

She loved St Kilda where Nick, captains the team. She loved Richmond too – though a little less – where Jack is a forward. She loved the Yankees' Derek Jeter and cried as she would sing You'll Never Walk Alone when Liverpool took to Anfield. She loved sports stats and rattled out her brother's stats quicker than Bruce McAvaney as she watched him play.

Last year when St Kilda surprisingly defeated Fremantle, Nick stood on the middle of Etihad Stadium and spoke down the television camera to his sister.

"To my sister Madeleine, who's in hospital, I love you very much," Nick said. "I can't wait to come in and see you. Keep going, you're the bravest person I know and I love you."

Madeleine had two bone marrow transplants which offered hope that was only to be dashed by more infection. The marrow she needed had to come from France, a fact that drove her determination to campaign for awareness here of the need to donate and for donor laws to change in line with parts of Europe where donation is assumed unless people opt out.

"We are so proud of Madeleine for fighting as long and hard as she did," the Riewoldt family said in a statement. "This spirit is a testament to her strength."

For now Nick has no plans for playing football. He will return to playing the game his sister loved watching him play, but when is question for later.

The Riewoldt family has urged people to sign up to the Bone Marrow Registry and donate blood via the Australian Red Cross.