Phil Walsh memorial: Tributes to a footy genius who put family first
AUSTRALIAN football royalty have paid a stirring tribute to the late Crows coach Phil Walsh. Mourners heard that family meant the most to Walsh. Michelangelo Rucci was at the service. See the gallery
THEY came to remember Phil Walsh. For many among the 1000 at the private memorial service at Adelaide Oval they learned of the real Phil Walsh who was just starting to be known by the high exposure as the Adelaide Football Club coach in the AFL.
Australian football’s royalty — from AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan, the big powerbrokers such as Collingwood president Eddie McGuire and the game’s greatest champions such as Brownlow Medallist Nathan Buckley and Mark Ricciuto — stood in memory of a man who would have approved of his send-off being to Jimmy Barnes’ “Working Class Man”.
And while so much has been said of Walsh as a footballer and coach since he was killed in his Somerton Park home on the morning of July 3, the greatest account of Walsh’s 55 years was from his moments away from elite football.
Family friend Sharon Watt, delivering the first of four eulogies in Wednesday’s 90-minute service, revealed the true character of a football genius who had shunned the limelight in his 32 years in football across seven AFL clubs in four states.
Walsh left AFL football — after just finding comfort with the bright lights that came in his nine months as Crows coach — described as a “complex man”.
“To his family and friends,” Watt said, “there was nothing overly complex.
“He was a simple man, with simple values and priorities. The simple things gave him the most pleasure. Family meant the most.”
Those who had known Walsh as a rival or colleague in football learned of the man from the “symbols of Phil’s life” as chosen by his daughter Quinn as presented on the stage at the Oval and at his private funeral at Henley Beach on Friday.
The surfboard presented by Port Adelaide captain Travis Boak told of his love of surfing. Chocolates of his sweet tooth. A guide book of Japan of his wish to see the world. A bottle of fine red wine — replaced by his thirst for green tea and supermarket-branded mineral water after he swore off alcohol in October 2012 as he fought for his life after being hit by a bus in Peru. And a print of Vincent van Gogh’s “Sunflowers” from his famous last press conference at the Crows headquarters on July 1 when Walsh was starting to find comfort in revealing his true personality.
“He was just like the rest of us,” said Watt to give the first personal reflection of Walsh since his death has brought tributes focussed on his football achievements in 122 VFL-AFL games with Collingwood, Richmond and Brisbane from 1983-1991 and his significant coaching work at Port Adelaide, Geelong, West Coast and Richmond.
“He was the perfect partner (to his wife of 28 years, Meredith). Proud of (his children) Cy and Quinn. He wanted his kids to be happy. He was family first. He cherished his family.”
There were constant references to Walsh’s son who has been charged with his murder and remains in care. Walsh’s widow Meredith ordered a prayer for Cy during the service that had music from the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra and Amber Poulton, the wife of former Port Adelaide player Jared who was coached by Walsh.
The Crows’ chaplain, Mark Purser, asked for understanding of how Cy Walsh was grieving. Port Adelaide club chaplain Brandon Chaplin said in his eulogy that while he was “bewildered, confused and upset” there should be forgiveness.
Chaplin told of how he was hiking in western New South Wales when he had a call from Walsh 14 hours before his death.
“He was unsettled, restless and disturbed,” Chaplin said. “We were going to catch up for a face-to-face. He was gone that night.”
Port Adelaide premiership coach Mark Williams, who brought Walsh to the Power as his right-hand man, delivered a video eulogy spliced with movie clips that told of his best mate’s journey with him at Collingwood and Brisbane as players and at Alberton as coaches.
There was Spartacus because “you looked after your mates’ backs,” said Williams. Big Wednesday for surfing. And The Right Stuff that details the American race to space and how a group of men banded together to achieve greatness — a vision Walsh carried in football.
“You were a deadset genius,” Williams said. “What you brought to football will be there forever. And I’m proud to have gone on that journey with you.”
Former Port Adelaide football chief Rob Snowdon, who has supported the Walsh family through their tragedy, closed the service with note Walsh “would not want people to dwell” on his death.
“He would say it is time to move on — so get moving,” Snowdon said.
The Adelaide and Port Adelaide football teams that stood united at Walsh’s memorial will do such this week as opponents on the field in Sunday’s Showdown 39 at Adelaide Oval.