Source : ABC NEWS
Australian Football Hall of Fame member and Carlton great Robert Walls has died aged 74.
Walls passed away after using voluntary assisted dying laws.
Walls won three VFL premierships as a player and one as coach with the Blues.
His family released a statement on Thursday morning confirming Walls’s passing.
On behalf of the family of Robert Walls, the AFL wishes to advise that Robert passed away today at the age of 74, after 14 years as a league player, 16 years as a coach, 25 years as a commentator and a lifetime as a self-proclaimed ‘fan’.
Having battled cancer for more than two years, Robert did it his way and chose to end a fight that had seen him spend more than 250 nights in hospital during the past two years.
His son David, speaking on behalf of sister Rebecca and brother Daniel, confirmed the Carlton, Fitzroy and Brisbane great and grandfather to seven had passed away peacefully in his unit overlooking the MCG.
Having spent the last couple of weeks tidying up his affairs and catching up with family and close friends, he chose that over more and more hospital visits for treatment.
His massive contribution to football at Carlton, Fitzroy, Brisbane and Richmond will be celebrated at the MCG in coming weeks.
Walls was diagnosed in 2023 with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, a rare and aggressive form blood cancer.
Walls played 218 games and won three premierships as a player for Carlton in between 1967 and 1978. (AAP Image/Supplied by Carlton Football Club)
Walls played 218 matches for the Blues, winning premierships in 1968, 1970 and in 1972.
He captained the club in 1977 and 1978, before joining Fitzroy mid-way through the 1978 season.
Walls ended his playing career in 1980, then coached Fitzroy form 1981-1985.
He returned to Carlton as coach in 1986, and guided the Blues to another premiership the following year.
Walls moved to Queensland and coached the Gold Coast-based Brisbane Bears from 1991-1995.
Half of the players part of the Brisbane Lions triple-premiership success from 2001-2003, were coached by Walls at the Bears.
Walls ended his coaching career in 1997 following a two-year stint at Richmond.
He moved into media where he worked for several broadcasters and became a columnist for The Age newspaper.
Carlton great Stephen Kernahan paid tribute Walls, who he said was deeply admired by those in the AFL.
“When I came to Carlton, ‘Wallsy’ drove me to get the best out of myself, and I’d do anything for him,” Kernahan said.
“He was a hard man – but I loved that hardness in him. He was also ahead of his time, a real visionary.
“Wallsy was a great mentor and friend to me, and I’m shattered I’m not going to see him again.”
