“The Adelaide Football club is devastated at the sudden passing of senior coach Phil Walsh in the early hours of this morning…We ask if you could please respect the privacy of his family, as well as our players, coaches and staff, at this extremely hard time”.
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The Hawks coach said he felt for the Crows, especially after the club grieved the loss of assistant coach Dean Bailey, who died of cancer previous year.
“We have decided that the game on Sunday between Adelaide and Geelong will not go ahead”.
The club’s scheduled clash against the Geelong Cats on Sunday has been abandoned in light of the tragedy, with the two teams receiving two points each, the same as for a draw.
“The only difference with this (case) is that he has a high profile”.
Personally, I can’t imagine how any AFL footballer could work himself up to the competitive pitch necessary to play the game on any day this weekend with the image of Walsh somewhere in their subconscious.
Police later searched for and found Walsh’s 26-year-old son, who was now undergoing a psychological assessment at Flinders Medical Centre.
Veteran AFL journalist Michelangelo Rucci said he was left in shock and disbelief after hearing the news.
“I remember one year I snapped at my son over something and he said: ‘Footy’s started again has it, Dad?'”, Walsh said.
Walsh’s was an avuncular, unique presence in his frequent media appearances: gregarious yet inscrutable; he dubbed himself a “bogan from Hamilton” and a “weirdo”; he spoke of seeking elite standards and putting the team first, of winning groundballs and watching Sunflowers.
“Horrible, disgusting news coming out of Adelaide”, tweeted ex- Test star Jason Gillespie from the United Kingdom where he plays with Leeds.
Veteran Adelaide AFL journalist Michelangelo Rucci told 5AA: “I’m speechless, bewildered…a person that so many of us knew so well – I just can’t understand how this can happen”.
“No one’s ever faced a situation like this”.
Brisbane Lions CEO Greg Swann said Walsh’s death had shocked all at the Club and across the AFL.
He was a hard-working talented wingman who made the most of his ability, winning Brisbane’s inaugural best-and-fairest award in 1987.
“It is bewildering to think just how this has happened”.
There is no doubt the players will somehow find courage in adversity and continue to play the Walsh brand of football that he would have expected of them.
Adelaide’s next match is against the West Coast Eagles at Domain Stadium next Saturday night.
Tributes flow for “great football mind”. That is the least of our worries. “This is going to touch so many people”.
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On Friday, his club’s motto became a rallying call on Twitter as fans posted photos of the Crows’ colours of navy blue, red and gold adorning front doors and mailboxes under the hashtag #weflyasone. And in between the Kurt Tippett drama they were also groomed by Brenton Sanderson, who was sacked before the 2014 season ended.
