Team to wear black in slain mate's memory

Nick Heyward.

The former Aussie Rules team of Nicholas Heyward will hold a minute's silence for their former teammate this weekend and will wear black armbands in his honour.

Wes Seewald praised the slain 31-year-old on the Facebook page of their team, the Lismore Swans.

He described Mr Heyward as "an absolute gentleman".

"Heyward played 31 games for the Swans and was 'the rising star' winner in 2006. He also was third runner-up in the best and fairest that same year. A true gentleman and a Swannie for life. Our thoughts go out to Nick's family."

He told the Herald yesterday that the Swans based in Lismore in northern New South Wales would be wearing black armbands this week in their game against Bond University.

A minute's silence would also be held before the game as a mark of respect, he said.

"He was a terrific footballer. He was a half-back flanker. He was very hard but very fair, just a really good athlete.

"He was just a genuine, nice guy."

Mr Heyward played for the Swans for three years until 2009, when he moved north to Queensland.

Before moving north up Australia's east coast, Mr Heyward attended Woodcroft College in his home town of Adelaide.

Ross Durbidge, one of his classmates at the college, described Mr Heyward as "easygoing and quite cheeky".

"He was always looking for an adventure rock climbing, bush walking, that sort of thing."