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AFL fans show utmost respect in Walsh tribute

AFL FANS paid murdered Phil Walsh the highest honour tonight, with a tribute so hushed, so respectful that “you could hear a pin drop”.

Dan ElsomDan Elsom
@elsom_dan
2 min read
July 4, 2015 - 5:52AM
Collingwood v Hawthorn at MCG. Collingwood fans show tributes to Phil Walsh. Picture: Tim Carrafa
Collingwood v Hawthorn at MCG. Collingwood fans show tributes to Phil Walsh. Picture: Tim Carrafa

AFL fans paid Phil Walsh the highest honour tonight, with a tribute so hushed, so respectful that “you could hear a pin drop”.

The AFL community has been rocked by a wave of emotion today after news of the tragic death of Adelaide Crows coach.

In what has been described as one of the toughest days in the history of the AFL, an overwhelming show of support has been directed towards the Adelaide Football Club, which now faces the challenge of dealing with the remainder of the season without its head coach.

Hawthorn and Collingwood drew the difficult task of playing in the first match since the 55-year-old’s death and seized the opportunity to show the ultimate sign of respect.

In a packed MCG, you could have heard a pin drop on the grass during the pre-game minute’s silence tribute.

Players stood arm-in-arm in the middle of the field, some with very heavy heads as they remembered a man who had been involved in nearly half of the nation’s football clubs throughout his 32-year playing and coaching career.

Not a single crowd member remained seated during the tribute, as fans recognised the generous impact Walsh had on the football community — the eerie silence a sign of their sincere condolences.

Collingwood and Hawthorn fans show tributes to Phil Walsh at the MCG.
Collingwood and Hawthorn fans show tributes to Phil Walsh at the MCG.

“You could hear a pin drop, so respectful,” commentator Bruce McAvaney said.

The moment was a stark contrast to the performance put in by rugby league crowds a few Wednesdays ago, but the less said about that the better.

However, the NRL also showed their support for Walsh’s family and the AFL community with a minute’s silence prior to the Round 17 opener between the Penrith Panthers and South Sydney Rabbitohs.

Thankfully, respect was shown when it was needed most.

AFL fans show the utmost respect for Phil Walsh.
AFL fans show the utmost respect for Phil Walsh.

Football fans from both codes also took to Twitter to express what they thought of the minute silence.

Following the match, despite Hawthorn’s close 10-point defeat of the Magpies, players from both sides embraced in a huddle on the field to pay further tribute to a man that had impacted so many of them.

In the same vein as the #PutYourBatsOut gesture that swept across the world following the shock death of cricketer Phillip Hughes last November, social media has been flooded with the hashtag #PutYourScarvesOut.

Hundreds of images have been uploaded to Twitter showing scarves of all different AFL sides hanging from front doors, balconies and fences around cities across the country.

“Because when some footy people hurt, all footy people hurt. #putyourscarvesout #RIPPhilWalsh,” wrote user Lauren alongside a photo showing a St Kilda and Carlton scarf fastened side by side off her patio.

Others hung their woolly memorabilia from their letter boxes, office windows and off the back of cars, with many combining different club colours as a mark of respect.

Adelaide supporters have also been laying a steady flow of tributes at the doors of the Crows’ headquarters, bringing flowers, cards and candles before pausing to pay their respects.

— with AAP

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Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/afl-fans-show-utmost-respect-in-walsh-tribute/news-story/89cdf4f4394b020e6f7a6b5cc26f8f39