Chad Cornes and Nathan van Berlo reflect on their time with Phil Walsh

Chad Cornes says Phil Walsh had more impact on his career than anyone. On the eighth anniversary of the coach’s death, Cornes and Nathan van Berlo reflect on his legacy.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JUNE 06: Phil Walsh, Senior Coach of the Crows looks on during the 2015 AFL round ten match between the Carlton Blues and the Adelaide Crows at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on June 6, 2015. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Media)

For Chad Cornes, Phil Walsh was the biggest influence on his career.

While for Nathan van Berlo the intensity that Walsh had as a coach, but also the care he had for his players, took him and his teammates to a new frontier.

On the eighth anniversary of the tragic passing of Walsh, those who encountered him at the two South Australian clubs said that he was still on their minds.

For Cornes, who encountered Walsh as an assistant coach at Alberton, it is constant.

“I think about him, there wouldn’t be a week that goes by where I wouldn’t think of him and it is most days as well,” he said.

“I ask myself would Walshy be proud of what I am doing coaching wise, would he agree with this strategy or whatnot.

“So he is always in the back of my head, he gave me so much care and time as a football player and the main thing I have learnt from him is to try and do that now and show the guys that you really care and you are invested in them.

“Because he did that to me and a lot of others at this footy club better than any one.”

Walsh had a lasting impact on both the Power and the Crows. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Media)

Walsh famously told Cornes after a few drinks at the Grand following the last game of the 2000 season to come and train with him every day during the upcoming summer, and to buy a block on the beach at Glenelg and build a house.

“He is the biggest influence on my career, if it wasn’t for him I would not be standing here,” Cornes said.

“He was before his time, footy back then was a bit basic. there wasn’t much game styles or tactics put into it and he was revolutionary in the way he studied the game and how he studied the oppo.

“He was such a smart man, he was great fun and such a role model for me on my career.”

The then Port coach was killed in 2015.

Van Berlo encountered Walsh after he finally got a gig as a senior coach at the Crows.

He said the impact Walsh had on him and the other players who were at West Lakes then was profound.

“I remember Walshy when he was coaching that year, it was probably the hardest pre-season that we had ever done,” he said.

“He really tested us as a group to train at intensity and at a level that we hadn’t before and what that did was elevate our mindset for that year in particular and looking back on it now the boys who are still here look back on it fondly.

“No doubt the boys who were involved with Walshy will have some time to reflect.

“As a coach and as a man he was an intense human being but he had a lot of care for his players and left a lasting legacy on us in the way he cared and the way he coached us so hard.”