Port Adelaide star Robbie Gray was diagnosed with testicular cancer earlier this year, the club has revealed.

Gray – who kicked 47 goals in 2017 – underwent surgery to remove the tumour at the conclusion of the season.

The club advised Gray will now undergo “a short course of precautionary chemotherapy”.

Port Adelaide’s football manager, Chris Davies, said that the news was not likely to stop Gray from pre-season training.

“Robbie’s health and wellbeing is, as always, the most important thing to us,” he said.

“We are thankful the surgery went as well as it could have.

“The treatment isn’t expected to interfere with Robbie’s ability to begin pre-season training in November.”

Club doctor Mark Fisher advised that “chemotherapy is a preventive measure to significantly reduce the chance of cancer returning”.

Gray played through injury for much of the 2017 season but was still named in the All-Australian side – for the third time in his career.

The 29-year-old is a three-time best-and-fairest winner at Port Adelaide, too.

Gray is the second footballer to be diagnosed with testicular cancer this year.

Melbourne forward Jesse Hogan was also found to have testicular cancer and he too underwent surgery.

Hogan did not have chemotherapy, though, and missed almost two months of football before returning for Melbourne.

Port Adelaide have asked for the privacy of Gray, partner Annabel, their families and friends be respected during his recovery.

A host of footballers took to Twitter to send Gray their best wishes.

“Sending lots of love to my boy Robbie Gray,” Port Adelaide teammate Jackson Trengove wrote.

“Best wishes Robbie Gray. Absolute star and one of footy’s good guys,” Geelong star Patrick Dangerfield added.

And Essendon captain Dyson Heppell said: “Thoughts and best wishes go out to Robbie Gray, wife Annabel and their families!!”