Fans have been paying tribute to Phil Walsh outside Adelaide's AAMI Stadium. Photo / Getty Images
Fans have been paying tribute to Phil Walsh outside Adelaide's AAMI Stadium. Photo / Getty Images
The Australian Football League is reeling and a premiership match has been cancelled after the killing of Adelaide Crows coach Phil Walsh, allegedly by his 26-year-old son, Cy.
The AFL cancelled tomorrow's match between the Crows and Geelong "as a mark of respect", as the AFL community - which Walsh belonged to for 32 years, as a footballer then coach - reacted with shock and disbelief.
The 55-year-old, who became the Crows' head coach eight months ago, died of multiple stab wounds.
Police said ambulance crews, who arrived at the family home in the beachside suburb of Somerton Park shortly after 2am yesterday, tried without success to resuscitate him.
Walsh's wife, Meredith, is being treated for a leg wound in hospital, but her injuries are not life-threatening. Their 22-year-old daughter is reportedly on her way home from an overseas holiday.
Cy Walsh, who had returned to live with his parents after travelling in Asia and the Americas, was having a psychiatric assessment yesterday after being charged with murder.
He fled the house but was found at a friend's home in the neighbouring suburb of Glenelg East.
As police tried to piece together what happened, grieving fans gathered outside the Crows' headquarters and hung club scarves and guernseys outside their homes.
The AFL's chief executive, Gillon McLachlan, described Walsh as "a man of boundless energy, enthusiasm and great intelligence".
Walsh's club, which he had lifted into the league's top eight, said it was "devastated".
Phil Walsh.
With tomorrow's match cancelled, the Crows and Geelong will be awarded two points each. The remainder of round 14 of the premiership will go ahead.
Police said an emergency call was made from Walsh's home after an argument.
"For any family, regardless of who it is, this is one of the worst things that you could imagine happening," said Detective Superintendent Des Bray.
"The only thing that is different ... is that he [Walsh] has a high profile. The pain and suffering of the family are no different."
Starting in 1983, Walsh played 122 Australian rules games for Collingwood, Richmond and the Brisbane Bears, mainly as a wingman, before taking coaching jobs at four clubs.
His all-consuming focus on football affected his family life, as he acknowledged in an interview with the Herald-Sun in April.
Walsh said he was "trying to reconnect with my son", and had taught his daughter to surf so they could pursue the hobby together. The three of them had gone surfing together last summer, "and it was almost the best day I've had ... ever".
He also embarked on a healthier lifestyle, giving up alcohol and taking up bike riding after a near-death experience in 2012, when he was hit by a bus in Peru.
