Phil Walsh murdered: AFL confirms cancellation of Adelaide v Geelong, rest of Round 14 to go ahead
GEELONG’S preparedness to sacrifice two premiership points was the clincher in the unprecedented solution to the Phil Walsh tragedy.
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GEELONG’S preparedness to sacrifice two premiership points was the clincher in the unprecedented solution to the Phil Walsh tragedy.
The Cats had the option of forcing Adelaide to forfeit Sunday’s clash with the Crows but swiftly dismissed that scenario during at meeting of club bosses at 10am on Friday.
Geelong chiefs considered Adelaide’s devastating predicament, and what they would do in similar circumstances, and told the AFL they were willing to effectively declare the match a draw and share the four premiership points.
It was the grand gesture that allowed Round 14 and the 2015 season to roll on in the least compromised way.
Some Cats supporters bemoaned the move, believing it could ultimately cost the club a finals berth.
Geelong is 10th and Adelaide seventh in a tight race for September action.
But the Cats’ football department, led by Steve Hocking, did not hesitate in ticking off the decision in understanding of the extraordinary situation. The club would have knocked back an offer from the league to accept all four points.
No AFL or VFL game has ever been cancelled and not replayed at another time.
Adding to the confusion, Geelong chairman Colin Carter and chief executive Brian Cook are overseas on business. Both took part in the decision making process by telephone.
Carter said from Mauritius: “We are completely supportive of the AFL’s decision to cancel the game on Sunday.
“We couldn’t imagine playing a game if we were in Adelaide’s situation and so it wouldn’t be right or fair on their players — or on ours.
“Phil was also a former member of our staff and is well known to many of our people and highly respected. This is a huge tragedy for many people in football and there are occasional circumstances when it would be wrong to actually play the game ... and this is one of them.”
Update: We will wearing black armbands this evening. There will be no banner, and a minute’s silence will be held prior to the coin toss.
— Collingwood FC (@CollingwoodFC) July 3, 2015
Tonight's game will go ahead. As a sign of respect, we will wear black armbands, observe a minute's silence and not run through a banner.
— Hawthorn FC (@HawthornFC) July 3, 2015
Carter said Cook, in Greece, had communicated directly with AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan as negotiations unfolded.
“There had been a number of phone calls in the previous hours with Rosie King (acting CEO) and I understand too that Brian Cook, who is in Greece, was on the phone to Gill.”
The Cats will hold a heavy training session on Saturday to substitute for the loss of match fitness.
FOX FOOTY WILL SCREEN AN AFL 360 SPECIAL ON PHIL WALSH FROM 6:30PM EST TONIGHT
All 18 clubs were informed of the historic decision during a telephone hook up with McLachlan at 1.30pm on Friday.
AFL official historian Cameron Sinclair said the decision by the AFL was unprecedented.
Games have been postponed because of bad weather or other circumstances, but not cancelled.
McLachlan confirmed the decision in a press conference on Friday afternoon, reiterating that the game was in mourning and the decision was taken as a “mark of respect”.
“We believe the AFL has made the right decision for the football community,” Adelaide FC Rob Chapman said. “We’d also like to thank the Geelong Football Club for their understanding and support of this decision.”
“Our game is in mourning today and I speak for the whole of the AFL – our clubs, our players and our staff – in passing our deepest sympathies to Phil Walsh’s family and friends,” McLachlan said.
“The sorrow and distress felt today touches many in our industry as Phil Walsh gave such a lot to our game.
“He was part of the AFL family for 32 years.
“To his family, we can only say that your loved father and husband is in all our hearts and whatever support we can offer, we will.
“To the Adelaide Football Club, the AFL industry is with you in thoughts and in action today offering all the support we can.”
Adelaide legend and board member Mark Ricciuto said earlier the Crows playing group would be in no fit state to play two days after the murder of their senior coach.
“When you’re a coach of a club you’re a father figure for forty-odd lads from the age of 18 to early thirties. Those lads will be going through a fair bit of grief at the moment,’’ he said.
“It is hard to understand how in two days time they’re going to play a footy match. If it does go ahead, you wonder how they’ll go. I played in a game three days after my cousin died and that was pretty tough. Some people can get through it and some can’t. So it will be interesting to see how the Adelaide Football Club players handle it.”
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