Adelaide ruckman Sam Jacobs mourns older brother Aaron after he died Wednesday
CROWS ruckman Sam Jacobs has been rocked by the tragic death of his older brother Aaron who has passed away from illness.
CROWS ruckman Sam Jacobs is to return to training on Friday after taking bereavement leave and paying tribute to his older brother.
Aaron Jacobs died on Wednesday from illness. He was 31.
Sam Jacobs, according to the Crows, is not in doubt for next week’s AFL qualifying final against Greater Western Sydney at Adelaide Oval. He will play dedicating the match to his brother.
Jacobs on Thursday evening posted a tribute to his brother on social media emphasising this theme saying: “I’ll continue to make you proud and keep your spirit alive!”
Jacobs, 29, wrote: “My beautiful big brother. I will never be able to replace the massive empty feeling I have now in my heart and I can no longer tell you how much I love you and how proud I am of the person you have become.
“You have always been my inspiration and I have got so much strength from watching you battle and fight no matter the challenges you faced and it was always done with that happy, infectious smile on your face.”
Jacobs was not at Adelaide’s training session at Adelaide Oval on Wednesday.
He returned to the family home at Ardrossan on the Yorke Peninsula.
The Crows expect Jacobs to be at training on Friday and in action in the double-chance final at Adelaide Oval. Funeral details are still to be confirmed but the memorial service is expected after the final.
Jacobs is a vital part of Adelaide’s plans to claim the club’s first AFL premiership since 1998. He was a nominee for the All-Australian team this season, missing final selection on Wednesday to Port Adelaide lead ruckman Patrick Ryder.
Jacobs has played 171 AFL games since his start with Carlton in 2009. He joined the Crows at the end of the 2010 season and has played 154 league games for Adelaide.
He has a major challenge in the qualifying final against strong-bodied Giants ruckman Shane Mumford.