Margaret Varcoe’s father spoke for the first time since the death of his daughter

THE heartbroken father of Margaret Varcoe has spoken about the loss of his daughter for the first time since her death earlier this week.

MARGARET Varcoe’s father has expressed his grief at the tragic loss of his youngest daughter during the Adelaide Football League women’s grand final last week.

The 27-year-old died following a head clash with a teammate during while playing for the Angle Vale Football Club.

Speaking to 7 News, her father Brian spoke about the tragic loss of his youngest daughter.

“She was great, she was a really lovely lady, very smart. I don’t know, I just love her dearly and will miss her dearly too, my Maggie,” he said.

“She loved her dad and she loved her family, she loved her football. I couldn’t stay there to see them pull the plug on her. I just love my daughter.”

Varcoe walked off the field after the devastating collision but later collapsed in the team’s dressing room before being rushed to hospital immediately.

She was in a coma at Royal Adelaide Hospital all week before news broke of her death on Thursday night.

The sister of Collingwood Magpies star Travis Varcoe, Margaret’s story has resonated throughout the AFL with an outpouring of grief.

Brian wasn’t at the game when Margaret suffered the tragic head injury due to sickness and recounted the tragic circumstances.

“I got the news to come to the hospital, it was so devastating,” he said told 7 News.

“Then my son came across, Travis, who I love very much too, and he flew back to get his daughter.”

“When the specialist came out and gave us the rundown, I knew something was wrong.

“We came back the next day and Travis flew back from Melbourne again and I knew something was seriously wrong then.

“The specialist came out and started talking about that she never responded, her brain was badly bruised and I knew there was something seriously wrong and I’d just lost my daughter who was so precious to me.”

Margaret was on life support for four days before it was switched off and there has been an outpouring of grief from across the AFL community.

Eddie McGuire spoke out on the AFL Footy Show on Thursday night.

Brian said: “I believe Eddie McGuire will support Travis every inch of the way.”

Travis gathered teammates to address them at training on Wednesday.

“He feels comfortable (at the club) and wants to be around his other family and that’s us at the footy club,” Collingwood vice-captain Steele Sidebottom said at the time.

The Angle Vale Football Club posted a message on Facebook saying: “Maggie you were a much loved member of our women’s team who all idolised you both on and off the field. Your infectious smile and kind nature will be truly missed around the club you chose to call home. We will do whatever we can to support the Varcoe family and the AVFC family who are all deeply saddened by this tragedy. RIP Maggie xxx”

The club has since announced on Facebook it will retire Maggie’s number 1 jersey from the open women’s team.

Originally published as Margaret Varcoe’s father spoke for the first time since the death of his daughter