AFL Hall of Famer and former Carlton premiership coach Robert Walls dies aged 74

A star as a player, Robert Walls became a leading coach before a stellar media career and the football world is in mourning over his death.

Tributes are flowing for AFL Hall of Famer and premiership-winning Carlton legend Robert Walls, who died on Thursday morning.

Walls, 74, a triple premiership Carlton player and 1987 premiership coach, had been battling a rare and aggressive blood cancer since 2023.

An AFL statement released on behalf of Walls’ family confirmed that Walls “passed away peacefully in his unit overlooking the MCG” in a medically supervised death, surrounded by his sister Annette and three children.

The league said his “massive contribution to football at Carlton, Fitzroy, Brisbane and Richmond will be celebrated at the MCG in coming weeks”.

A member of Carlton’s team of the century for his deeds as a player, Walls also guided the Blues to the 1987 premiership as part of a long and distinguished coaching career.

He guided Fitzroy to finals in 1981, 1983 and 1984 before taking on Carlton, after which he was lured to the Brisbane Bears in 1991 where he coached until 1995.

One final coaching stint at Richmond followed (1996 and 1997) before Walls embarked on a long and successful media career.

Vale Robert Walls 💔

3x Premiership Player
1x Premiership Coach
Carlton Captain
Carlton Team of the Century
Carlton Hall of Fame (Legend Status)
Australian Football Hall of Famer
218 Games, 367 Goals for Carlton
84 Games Coached for the Blues
2x Leading Goalkicker pic.twitter.com/Z1epynSqMg

— Carlton News & Stats (@UptheBaggers) May 15, 2025

Captain of the Blues’ 1987 premiership team, club legend Stephen Kernahan paid tribute to Walls as a person he deeply admired

“When I came to Carlton, ‘Wallsy’ drove me to get the best out of myself, and I’d do anything for him,” Kernahan said.

“He was a hard man – but I loved that hardness in him. He was also ahead of his time, a real visionary.

“Wallsy was a great mentor and friend to me, and I’m shattered I’m not going to see him again.”

Behind the gruff exterior of AFL… Robert Walls was a beautiful human being.
Kind, generous, caring.
In the end unbelievably courageous.
He loved his family dearly.
I was proud to call him a friend and I’ll miss him.
Condolences to all those that loved him.
Vale Rob 🙏🏻 pic.twitter.com/0gIw42DCR4

— Stephen Quartermain (@Quartermain10) May 15, 2025

Walls was a key member of Seven’s Talking Footy show, before moving to Fox Footy, and was also a long-time newspaper columnist, TV and radio commentator.

Long-time TV commentator Stephen Quartermaine was glowing in his praise of Walls.

“Behind the gruff exterior of AFL … Robert Walls was a beautiful human being,” he posted on X.

“Kind, generous, caring. In the end unbelievably courageous. I was proud to call him a friend and I’ll miss him.”

Walls kicked 367 goals in 218 games for the Blues as a player and was judged best on ground in the 1972 grand final, kicking six goals,

He finished his playing career at Fitzroy, adding 41 games, for a total of 259 matches and 444 goals.

Wall is survived by his three children, seven grandchildren, and sister Annette.

Originally published as AFL Hall of Famer and former Carlton premiership coach Robert Walls dies aged 74