Phil Walsh found dead overnight

[hardtack 10,537]

I doubt they will be able to push the finals and grand final back. There's too much pre-planning and scheduling. They will more likely cancel the round.

According to a tweet from Jon Ralph earlier, firstly:

"The AFL will await discussions with the Crows about what to do with Sunday's game, which surely must be postponed. There are in Crows hands"

followed by (about half an hour ago):

"Still no decision on whether Adelaide play. Might be late tonight or early tomorrow until that is made. Hawks-Pies game expected to go ahead"

So, at the moment it looks like just the Adelaide v Geelong game will be moved to a later date.

[Sir Why You Little 37,035]

It's up to the players

He coached at Geelong as well

Many people will carry a heavy burden on Sunday and beyond...

[pitmaster 3,549]

It should be left to the Crows players to decide what they want to do.

Awful news that puts football into perspective. Cannot lose sight of this first of all as a family tragedy.

[Ted Lasso 19,516]

I couldn't play after that! It would take an incredible amount of courage to take the field this week.

[deanox 9,915]

Horrible news for all involved.

Not sure what to do about the game though. Cancel the game and play round 22 for 8 points? Splitting the points this week would be a bad onfield outcome for the crows who would fancy themselves for the 4 points to keep them in the hunt for a top 4 spot, and keep them another game clear of geelong. Tough situation isn't it?

Edited July 3, 2015 by deanox

[Moneider96 1,045]

They can't cancel the round. It would be unfair for teams who are playing 'easier' teams this week (compare West Coast to Collingwood).

[Devil is in the Detail 883]

Horrible news for all involved.

Not sure what to do about the game though. Cancel the game and play round 22 for 8 points? Splitting the points this week would be a bad onfield outcome for the crows who would fancy themselves for the 4 points to keep them in the hunt for a top 4 spot, and keep them another game clear of geelong. Tough situation isn't it?

AFL wont be forced to make a decision until they consult the Crow's player and determine what the players feel like doing.

[Rod Grinter Riot Squad 5,654]

It should be left to the Crows players to decide what they want to do.

Awful news that puts football into perspective. Cannot lose sight of this first of all as a family tragedy.

Horrendous news and my heart goes out to all involved.

You are spot on IMO, let the Crows players decide.

When I was working as a skydive pilot, I was doing the night rating flights for some skydivers, just before the final flight the news came through that a skydiver who was also a pilot and a good friend had passed away. I was devastated, I told one mate that I was going to cancel the final flight but he asked me, what would she want. I had no doubt she would have wanted the skydivers to get their night rating, so we did the flight. It was the hardest flight of my life, but I felt I had to do it, I wanted to do it because I knew that it was the best way I could honour her and I was absolutely certain it is what she would have wanted.

So, what every one else thinks means squat, it's up to the Adelaide crows players to decide what they want to do, something they would discuss with the club and Phil's family. Everyone else is irrelevant.

[Its Time for Another 4,217]

Horrendous news and my heart goes out to all involved.

You are spot on IMO, let the Crows players decide.

When I was working as a skydive pilot, I was doing the night rating flights for some skydivers, just before the final flight the news came through that a skydiver who was also a pilot and a good friend had passed away. I was devastated, I told one mate that I was going to cancel the final flight but he asked me, what would she want. I had no doubt she would have wanted the skydivers to get their night rating, so we did the flight. It was the hardest flight of my life, but I felt I had to do it, I wanted to do it because I knew that it was the best way I could honour her and I was absolutely certain it is what she would have wanted.

So, what every one else thinks means squat, it's up to the Adelaide crows players to decide what they want to do, something they would discuss with the club and Phil's family. Everyone else is irrelevant.

Worst AFL news I've ever heard. Deaths have been shocking but murder is a whole other level of pain. The poor man had just reached the pinnacle of his AFL Professional career. Can't even comprehend what his wife and daughter must be coping with right now.

Mate what a terrible thing to have gone through. Interesting feedback on how you dealt with it personally. You just know if in considering what they are going to do they asked themselves what would Phil want. They would all likely say he would want them to play and win to help secure their finals and possible top 4 spot. It would be a harsh outcome on both teams if the round went on and they split the points. On the other hand, if it was me, I doubt I'd be capable of playing, or certainly not at my best. So I would imagine it will be a very personal call. I guess they'll ask each individual player and make a decision based on the individual feedback. If not enough can cope then they won't play and I'm sure the AFL will work out a way of dealing with that but can't imagine that would be cancelling the whole round as it would have such an uneven effect on the year's competition.

Edited July 3, 2015 by It's Time

[Akum 2,660]

It's hard to imagine anything worse happening to any family.

Our hearts & thoughts & prayers go out to them. Hope they get all the support they need.

[Nasher 33,616]

Horrendous news and my heart goes out to all involved.

You are spot on IMO, let the Crows players decide.

When I was working as a skydive pilot, I was doing the night rating flights for some skydivers, just before the final flight the news came through that a skydiver who was also a pilot and a good friend had passed away. I was devastated, I told one mate that I was going to cancel the final flight but he asked me, what would she want. I had no doubt she would have wanted the skydivers to get their night rating, so we did the flight. It was the hardest flight of my life, but I felt I had to do it, I wanted to do it because I knew that it was the best way I could honour her and I was absolutely certain it is what she would have wanted.

So, what every one else thinks means squat, it's up to the Adelaide crows players to decide what they want to do, something they would discuss with the club and Phil's family. Everyone else is irrelevant.

Great post.

If they do opt to play, I'll watch with a tear of emotion and respect in my eye.

[Skuit 10,031]

I think the problem with simply leaving it up to the players is that football is a team sport and some individual players may feel unnecessarily pressured into playing, from within or without, to prove a point of bravery or comradery.

[bananas 428]

I think the problem with simply leaving it up to the players is that football is a team sport and some individual players may feel unnecessarily pressured into playing, from within or without, to prove a point of bravery or comradery.

Was just about to post something similar. There's also the potential that some players might believe it's for the best before the game, then find it all too much once they're actually out there. I can't really imagine any version of their quarter time huddle that doesn't add more trauma to what they're going through, rather than helping them through it.

[Sir Why You Little 37,035]

Sitting around on Sunday not playing may be a worse scenario??

Very tough decision...

[John Crow Batty 8,863]

Horrible news for all involved.

Not sure what to do about the game though. Cancel the game and play round 22 for 8 points? Splitting the points this week would be a bad onfield outcome for the crows who would fancy themselves for the 4 points to keep them in the hunt for a top 4 spot, and keep them another game clear of geelong. Tough situation isn't it?

Not a bad idea if both clubs agree. To be fair though the game should be transferred to a neutral ground to play for the 8 points. It is round 23 at Skilled Stadium BTW. Edited July 3, 2015 by america de cali

[nutbean 8,838]

I am an unabashed fan of Titus O'Reily - a very funny and clever writer - i had to repost what he wrote about this....sums up how i am feeling

Some random thoughts on a bad morning

All we are really looking for in this life is a connection.

For all the brash talk sometimes of not needing anyone else, all we really want is some connection to other people, to something bigger than ourselves, to the broad mass of humankind.

It’s kind of the reason we follow sport as passionately as we do. Deep down on a some level we know it’s silly, pointless really in the scheme of things.

Yet it’s never really about a game where a bunch of people chase a ball around or arguing about whether one grown man properly disposed of the ball or held a mark long enough. It’s the human element, that connection to other people, often people we have never met.

It’s even people we’ve never heard about but we know are out there. That mass of footy fans out there, all riding the highs and lows, all pouring time into something that only has meaning because we all choose to give it meaning.

There are far better people than me to eulogise Phil Walsh. I imagine what we are all feeling is a very poor facsimile of what the people who actually knew him are currently feeling.

So why do the rest of us react to this like we do? To the passing of someone we didn’t even know? After all, it’s a sad fact of life that wonderful people pass away all the time, often to the ignorance of the majority of us.

I think we react like this because what we feel is the breaking of one of those connections.

Someone who cared about something we did, who shared experiences, probably admired people we did and shared the joy and frustrations of this game is gone.

We also sense something that is at the heart of much of life; that it often makes no sense. Searching for meaning where there is none is part of why we all feel a bit lost this morning.

The only comfort I can find in this is that so many others are feeling what I’m feeling today. We’re all connected because of football and we are lucky to be.

Vale Phil Walsh

[Skuit 10,031]

Left-field - but if some players want to play, they can scrap the competitive match for points and have a friendly tribute run on Adelaide Oval with composite teams made up from the Crows, Cats and Power lists. As many players as want to join in for however long they want to. It may sound insensitive, but I also feel for the Geelong players in this scenario - like with Jim Courier against Pete Sampras at the Australian Open - I don't khow comfortable I'd feel going out there and attempting to drive a grieving team into the ground.

[Demon Disciple 12,122]

Logged on to afl.com.au and see 'Vale: Phil Walsh'. Thought he must have had a heart-attack then read that it was a result of a stabbing from domestic violence.

I am numb.

[spirit of norm smith 16,452]

Life is so previous. A tragedy to all.

[Generation dee 1,336]

I just want to share my experience with Phil to you all.

Growing up like many young men, it was always my dream to play afl. So when I got invited to Glenelg u/17 as a 15 year old, I was absolutely stoked. My first season was spread between living in south east south australia and heading to adelaide. My second season was interrupted by issues at home and Glenelg didn't really see a future for me however port adelaide did. As I was now nearly 17 I was in the u/19 squad and the then port adelaide afl midfield coach was in charge of our first session. I remember thinking that I didn't belong at this level but after our initial training and subsequent meeting, Phil told me I had all the attributes to be a solid league footballer. As the season wore on Phil could see issues at home or outside of football were taking their toll and consequently harming my output. The term father figure gets thrown around far too often these days, but that was exactly what Phil was. Half way through year 12 when it became too much and I dropped out on top of a knee injury, Phil drove with me back to the south east to my family home to sit down with my parents to see what we could do to turn my life around. Without going into too much detail, Phil would continue to have a mentoring role with me for a full season after, often calling me after a game to touch base, or see if I'd survived the weekend binge.

Words can't describe the pain I feel today. I haven't spoken to Phil for close to 5 years except for a text to congratulate him on taking over the adelaide , but I'll never forget his influence on me as a teenager going through some turbulent times. The world has lost a great, caring and genuine man today and IL never be able to thank him enough for his time in my life. I know that I'm just one of many young players that he had this effect on and I can only imagine the pain that others, be it afl or never-weres like me are also going through.

RIP Phil. THE world has lost a great person today.

[Dees2014 2,377]

i agree "let the players decide", although there are others who think that is immensely unfair on them. There are afterall expectations, even in this appalling situation.

Maybe the best direction is to play the game but make it totally dedicated to the memory of phil walsh. After all there must be a large portion of the geelong team and coaching staff who are hurting very much as well since he was also a very faithful servant of the cattery in the past..

From all we know about walsh, he was an AFL tragic - you couldn't imagine he would not want for the game to go on. what more fitting tribute there could be for two clubs who loved him and respected him, to have a no holds barred ding dong AFL match, and shake hands afterwards and then go on to have a wake in his honor.

Vale Phil Walsh

Edited July 3, 2015 by Dees2014

[MadAsHell 4,212]

I doubt they will be able to push the finals and grand final back. There's too much pre-planning and scheduling. They will more likely cancel the round.

Maybe reduce the finals to three weeks?

Just go Quarter Finals, Semi Finals, Grand Final?

[Moneider96 1,045]

From bigfooty:

There actually are contingencies for such events:

1. 
   
   1. Incomplete Match
   
   33.1 Events Beyond Control of Clubs
   
   If any Match is unable to commence or continue or to be completed within the time scheduled for the Match for reasons beyond the control of the Club (which for the purposes of this Regulation 33 includes any Officer, servant, agent or independent contractor of the Club), the following provisions shall apply:
   
   Match Not Commenced
   
   If a Match is unable to commence for reasons beyond the control of the Club, the General Manager - Football Operations shall endeavour to reschedule the Match so that a result can be obtained. If the Match cannot be rescheduled, each Team shall be awarded two Premiership Points and the Teams’ percentage shall not be adjusted.

[Akum 2,660]

I just want to share my experience with Phil to you all.

Growing up like many young men, it was always my dream to play afl. So when I got invited to Glenelg u/17 as a 15 year old, I was absolutely stoked. My first season was spread between living in south east south australia and heading to adelaide. My second season was interrupted by issues at home and Glenelg didn't really see a future for me however port adelaide did. As I was now nearly 17 I was in the u/19 squad and the then port adelaide afl midfield coach was in charge of our first session. I remember thinking that I didn't belong at this level but after our initial training and subsequent meeting, Phil told me I had all the attributes to be a solid league footballer. As the season wore on Phil could see issues at home or outside of football were taking their toll and consequently harming my output. The term father figure gets thrown around far too often these days, but that was exactly what Phil was. Half way through year 12 when it became too much and I dropped out on top of a knee injury, Phil drove with me back to the south east to my family home to sit down with my parents to see what we could do to turn my life around. Without going into too much detail, Phil would continue to have a mentoring role with me for a full season after, often calling me after a game to touch base, or see if I'd survived the weekend binge.

Words can't describe the pain I feel today. I haven't spoken to Phil for close to 5 years except for a text to congratulate him on taking over the adelaide , but I'll never forget his influence on me as a teenager going through some turbulent times. The world has lost a great, caring and genuine man today and IL never be able to thank him enough for his time in my life. I know that I'm just one of many young players that he had this effect on and I can only imagine the pain that others, be it afl or never-weres like me are also going through.

RIP Phil. THE world has lost a great person today.

Great post GD. Really brings it home.

[Grapeviney 9,718]

Sunday's game has been called off, with points to be shared between the two clubs.

AFL says it's not fair to expect the players to play given the circumstances.

I think they've made the right decision.