Footy legend Danny Frawley went missing in final days before tragic death

Footy legend Danny Frawley reportedly went missing from his family and never made the psychiatrist appointment he’d booked the day he died.

Footy legend Danny Frawley’s heartbreaking final days have revealed a brave fighter that was overcome and distant.

In the final days before his tragic death in a single-vehicle car crash near Ballarat in Victoria on Monday, the 56-year-old reportedly never showed up for a family birthday celebration and never made it to a psychiatrist appointment scheduled for the day he died.

It was reported on Tuesday that the former Richmond coach’s 29-year marriage with wife Anita was breaking down and he was also experiencing money problems after a major investment opportunity went bad.

Frawley co-hosted Fox Footy’s Bounce on Saturday night with the same infectious humour that endeared him to so many and was reportedly due to celebrate his 56th birthday with family members on Sunday — the day before he died.

It has now emerged that Frawley went missing from the engagement in his home town in Bungaree, west of Melbourne, with family members reportedly alarmed at his no-show.

The Age reports Frawley had been returning to his beloved country town increasingly in recent months.

The father-of-three’s birthday no-show was followed on Monday by a missed appointment with a psychiatrist in Melbourne, scheduled for the same afternoon the footy champion died in his ute at Millbrook, near his beloved home town and family potato farm.

Victoria Police on Tuesday announced the fatal crash was not being treated as suspicious.

Frawley had opened up about his long-term battle with depression in recent interviews and

told The Herald Sun last month of a mental breakdown and burnout he experienced during the Essendon supplements saga. He said, in his role as chief executive of the AFL Coaches Association, he was overwhelmed one night leaving the MCG and needed to be collected from his own car by wife Anita.

Danny Frawley with wife Anita and daughters Chelsea, Keeley and Danielle. Picture: Facebook

Danny Frawley was vocal about his mental health battle. Picture: Mark Stewart

Frawley had reportedly told those close to him about the issues weighing him down — but they were still shocked and dismayed at the news of his death on Monday.

Legends from all walks of life, including Brisbane champion Jonathan Brown, were shattered when paying tribute to Frawley.

Fellow Fox Footy On The Couch panellist Garry Lyon was too upset to appear on the show and Frawley’s close friend Jason Dunstall also grieved in private.

Fox Footy announced the show would not be filmed this weekend during the second week of the AFL finals series as a mark of respect to the popular footy larrikin.

Fox Footy spent its entire Monday night paying tribute to the champion fullback and also announced plans to keep Frawley at the forefront of its weekend broadcasts.

The AFL will pay tribute to Frawley with a moment of silence before each of this weekend’s semi-finals.

Geelong will host West Coast on Friday night at the MCG, with Brisbane playing GWS on Saturday night at the Gabba.

Players, umpires and AFL match officials will also wear black armbands as a mark of respect for Frawley.

Jason Dunstall is yet to return to TV following the death of Danny Frawley.

“Danny was a friend to everyone in footy and his passion for the game, from the elite to the grassroots, was unmatched,” AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan said in a statement.

“Whether you knew him as the St Kilda captain, the Richmond coach or the loveable guy on the TV or radio, who always made you smile, the acknowledgment this weekend is a way for everyone to pay tribute to the man we all knew and loved.”

St Kilda will also honour Frawley at the club’s Trevor Barker Awards on Wednesday night at the Crown in Melbourne.

One of the greatest tributes being paid to Frawley is the wave of public support for his “Golden Fist” award for the best defender of the AFL season to be officially recognised by the league and awarded on the same night the Brownlow Medal count takes place.

A petition urging the league to sanction Frawley’s gong had gained more than 33,000 votes on Tuesday.

The family of Frawley, wife Anita and daughters Chelsea, Danielle and Keeley, along with his mother and five siblings, released a statement on Tuesday night thanking the wider footy community for its outpouring of emotion and well-wishes towards the gutted family.

Family members said they were shocked and devastated by his death but reflected on his love for his family and his work to support those suffering mental health issues.

“The Frawley families are totally shocked and devastated by his passing, but Danny provided us with strength, good humour and unwavering support during his extraordinary life, memories which will be cherished and help us cope with his tragic death,” the statement read.

A tribute to Danny Frawley at the Bungaree Demons Football Club.

“Danny made friends from all walks of life. He had a smile that would light up a room, an infectious laugh and an easy charm that made people feel good about themselves. He genuinely liked and cared about people and they loved him back.

“Danny was to all who knew him a caring, loyal, selfless, loving person who would always put others first before himself and, aside from his work in football and media, he worked hard to use his profile to remove the stigma associated with depression and encouraged acceptance and support for those who suffered with mental health issues.”

Frawley made his mark on the AFL in a number of roles, including as St Kilda captain, Richmond coach and, more recently, as a media personality. The family had been “overwhelmed” by community support.

“We would like to sincerely thank everyone for the outpouring of love and kindness at this time,” the statement said. “We are overwhelmed by the messages of support following his death. We are humbled, proud and incredibly touched.”

If you or someone you know needs help, contact BeyondBlue on 1300 224 636 or Lifeline on 13 11 14. RUOK? is a suicide prevention charity that aims to start life-changing conversations.

— with AAP