AFL world in mourning after Carlton legend Robert Walls passes away, aged 74

Carlton great and Australian Football Hall of Famer, Robert Walls, has passed away, choosing voluntary assisted dying over a second gruelling cancer fight. And his family say, the legend was ready to go.

• Tributes flow for ‘visionary’ Walls
• Sheahan: My last moment with Wallsy
• Fearless, ferocious and forever one of footy’s most revered

One of Robert Walls’ sons has told how the Carlton legend “skipped” to his death on Thursday after choosing to end his life rather than go through another gruelling cancer fight.

The Herald Sun this morning revealed that the 74-year-old Australian Football Hall of Famer and Carlton Team of the Century member passed away peacefully at home surrounded by loved ones.

Walls chose voluntary assisted dying instead of another gruelling round of chemotherapy in his battle with a rare and aggressive blood cancer, he decided the manner and timing of his departure.

Son David told the Herald Sun; “In the movies you think of someone on death row dragging their feet but he skipped down the hallway like he was running through the banner.

“His dog Lily was craning her neck trying to get to him and see what was happening but Lily will go with (former partner) Julie.

“They aren’t together any more but she has been a good companion and they have known each other for 18 years. We had dinner last night with all the grandkids and today was Daniel, Rebecca, myself (his children), his sister and Julie and Lily.”

David added that Walls had been sick of fighting after more than 250 days in hospital since his diagnosis in September 2023.

“He was ready. He said, ‘I have had a great life and I have tried to fight it, but it’s enough’.

“Seeing how mum went through what she did, he did an unbelievable job looking after her but he lived on his own and he knew what was coming and he thought he would go a little earlier rather than reaching the point of no return.

“He had to jump through a lot of hoops. He had to see three doctors, he had to be terminal and he had to have a certain type of cancer but he was ready.”

“He just kept saying how grateful he was for the life he had and the way he had travelled, the places he had been. He had a great career in football and grandkids that loved him. He said, “I can’t complain”.

The triple premiership Carlton player and 1987 premiership coach had battled acute lymphoblastic leukaemia since being diagnosed in the week before the 2023 Grand Final.

He had been in remission, but when the cancer returned he decided against another harrowing fight he could not win.

When the decision came to take the drink which would end his life, Walls was resolute that he would follow through on a decision months in the making.

Friends of the AFL great agreed the horrific toll of his wife Erin’s long battle with cancer had partly influenced Walls’ decision as well as the pain of his own fight.

Friends also said he was perpetually tired and his hearing, eyesight and balance were starting to go.

But they said the courageous Carlton great had been composed and in good spirits in recent days and was at peace with his decision.

MIKE SHEAHAN: MY LAST MOMENT WITH EXTRAORDINARY WALLSY

One close friend said: “It’s incredible how strong he was, he was consoling me and others.

“He was taking calls non-stop from well wishers and had dozens of visits. He certainly knew how much he was loved.”

David Walls said of those tributes: “It makes you proud of the whole football industry, people have been so good reaching out and showing love and care. Past players and people he coached have reached out. Simon Black sent him a really long message just from hearing about him from the boys at Brisbane.

“There was a huge amount of support even from people who thanked him but said he was so hard and smashed them (as a player) but now had gratitude for the life lessons he had instilled. He was a real, decent person with principles and passed those principles on.”

Walls called friends and former football associates to farewell them in recent weeks but was adamant he wanted no publicity ahead of his passing.

He told them he was conscious of the diminishing quality of life that he could expect if he was again subjected to a 24/7 chemotherapy fight.

Walls told the Herald Sun last year that when he was diagnosed he believed he only had a few months to live, so was content to have extended that timeline through chemotherapy.

“I wasn’t shattered or felt cheated,” he said.

“I just thought I’ve had a wonderful life. I’m 73, and (wife) Erin passed away 18 years ago (of cancer). She never saw the grandkids grow up. I’ve got seven grandkids, the oldest is Tara, 19, and the youngest is Daisy, 5, and the others are in between, and I’ve seen them grow up and I want to see more of that.

“That’s my incentive, to get a few more years. I don’t know how many more. If I could get a few more years, I’d happily sign off.’’

Paul Roos, who was coached by Walls at Fitzroy, travelled from his home in Hawaii to farewell him last week.

Walls with wife Erin, who lost her battled with cancer in 2006.

And with Stephen Kernahan and the 1987 premiership cup.

A celebration of Walls’ life is due to be held at the MCG, at a date to be decided.

In the final weeks of his life, Walls donated all of his premiership medals to the Carlton Football Club – his 1968, ‘70 and ‘72 medals and his retrospective 1987 Jock McHale medal awarded to the AFL’s premiership coach.

All of the four medals are on show at the Blues’ IKON Park display cabinet.

Walls transformed from one of footy’s most combative and prickly characters into an exceptional media personality.

His career saw him play 218 games as a rangy forward and two-time leading goalkicker for Carlton, winning flags in 1968, 1970 and 1972, before a 41-game stint at Fitzroy.

Carried off with a knee injury in his final game in 1980, he immediately replaced senior coach Bill Stephen for the following season and began a clean-out of players he believed were “past it”.

The Lions responded under Walls’ style and played finals in three of his five seasons, before he returned to Carlton as coach in an unusual swap that saw Blues coach David Parkin replace him at Fitzroy.

Within two seasons the Blues had won the 1987 premiership under him.

Walls went on to coach the Brisbane Bears from 1991 to 1995, before coaching Richmond in 1996 and 1997.

He became one of footy’s most passionate and combative TV commentators, featuring on shows including Talking Footy and On The Couch.

His running spat with Essendon coach Kevin Sheedy was legendary – as was their Talking Footy confrontation – while he was particularly scathing of West Coast’s 2006 premiership because of the players’ culture of drug-taking.

But while he admitted he was prickly in an era of hard-as-nails senior coaches, a new generation saw his softer side as he enjoyed time with grandchildren.

Walls said last year he would have no regrets if the cancer eventually got him.

“If I was to die tomorrow, I’d say how fortunate I’ve been,” he said.

“No ‘woe is me’ at all. My sister’s had cancer, her husband had cancer, their little boy when he was four had cancer and lost his arm. He’s now 35 or 36 and a strapping big guy. How tough’s that? My wife passed away at 55. Shit, I’m in my 70s, I’ve got nothing to complain about, nothing at all.’’

The number of Victorians ending their lives through Voluntary Assisted Dying has increased from 129 in the 2019-20 financial year – after the program began – to 371 in the 2023-24 financial year.

Originally published as AFL world in mourning after Carlton legend Robert Walls passes away, aged 74