AFL mourns the quintessential Saint after fatal car crash

For more than 30 years, AFL great Danny Frawley’s passion propelled him to the top of the sport.

For more than 30 years, AFL great Danny Frawley’s passion and committment propelled him to the top of the sport.

There were 240 games playing for St Kilda, 177 as captain; a best-and-fairest gong and All Australian team selection; 11 outings in the “Big V” jumper in State of ­Origin.

Then there were the five years as Richmond coach followed by a successful move into the competitive world of sports commentary and media.

Read more: Danny Frawley’s legacy as a mental health advocate

For some, success brings a big head. Not for Frawley, who never forgot where he came from, describing himself to the end as “a simple spud farmer from Bungaree that’s made his way up to the big smoke”.

An AFL Life Member and a much-loved figure in football.

A tribute to St Kilda icon, Danny Frawley. pic.twitter.com/SKst2u5LbV

— AFL (@AFL) September 9, 2019

While “Spud” loved to talk about “the big footy issues” on Fox Footy and SEN radio, where he was a regular, he was also a revolutionary of sorts, using his profile to lift the lid on the thorny issue of men’s mental health.

Now, the AFL community is in mourning following Frawley’s death on Monday in a single-car accident, about 100km west of Melbourne. The 56-year-old died shortly after 1.30pm, when the utility he was driving left Old Melbourne Road and hit a tree at Millbrook, near Ballarat.

The scene of the crash this afternoon. Picture: David Caird

Frawley, who had celebrated his birthday on Sunday, was married to Anita and together they had three daughters.

Tributes have painted him as a “passionate” individual, who had a strong commitment to his family and the wider community and was “loved by all”.

St Kilda Football Club president Andrew Bassat said the club was still coming to terms with the news. “We are incredibly saddened by Danny’s death,” he said.

“He was a larger-than-life character, a generous and warm personality, and a favourite son who has left an indelible mark on St Kilda. Danny will be remembered as one of St Kilda’s greatest ever players and a dear friend to so many at the football club.”

Danny Frawley celebrates with Saints coach Stan Alves after a AFL match against the Carlton Blues in 1995. Picture: Getty

AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan described Frawley’s death as devastating. “Danny’s loss will be taken very hard by so many people within our industry, as well as within our own organisation,” Mr McLachlan said.

“Danny was passionate about footy and passionate about people. He made such a positive and lasting influence on so many in our game. He was a friend to all at the AFL and everyone in the wider football community. ‘Spud’ was loved by all, always a popular visitor to AFL House and our thoughts are with Anita, Chelsea, Danielle and Keeley.”

Fellow St Kilda great Nathan Burke said it was an “incredibly sad day” for football.

The St Kilda Football Club is heart-broken by the passing of club great Danny Frawley.

— St Kilda FC (@stkildafc) September 9, 2019

“Danny was obviously a legend of a player here, and [he] coached Richmond and [worked] in the media, so every aspect of this industry Danny has touched,” Burke told 7News Melbourne.

“So I think everyone would be equally sad.”

All at the Richmond Football Club are mourning the passing of our former coach, Danny Frawley.

Passionate and wholehearted, Danny coached 113 senior games between 2000 and 2004, including guiding the club to the 2001 preliminary final.

Loved by so many; Rest In Peace, Spud ❤️ pic.twitter.com/xRvQWCjH30

— Richmond FC 🐯 (@Richmond_FC) September 9, 2019

Celebrated as one of the top full-backs of his era, Frawley was recruited by St Kilda from St Patrick’s College in Ballarat and, until recently, was the longest serving captain in the club’s history. He retired in 1995 and was inducted into the club’s hall of fame in 2007.

Frawley went on to coach Richmond from 2000 to 2004, taking the side to a preliminary final in 2001. He returned to St Kilda as a specialist defensive coach on a part-time basis from 2014 to last year.

Danny Frawley with wife Anita and daughters Danielle, Chelsea and Keeley in 2017. Picture: Mark Stewart

Frawley also enjoyed a long-running media career, having been one of the original hosts of Before the Bounce, alongside Jason Dunstall and Gerard Whateley, which launched in 2007. More recently Frawley was a commentator for Fox Footy, co-hosted Bounce with Dunstall and Mooney and was a part of the 1116 SEN Footy team on Friday nights and Sunday afternoons.

Craig Hutchison, spokesman for Crocmedia, owner of SEN Radio, paid tribute to their “great friend” and “everyone’s mate”. “Danny was simply loved. A true Australian character, a brilliant entertainer, a selfless father, husband and friend,” Hutchison said.

“He epitomised the spirit of the St Kilda football club and his football legacy as a player, coach, administrator and media performer is enormous. But his sense of community and the way he inspired others will be forever ­remembered.

Danny Frawley keeps an eye on Richmond’s training session in 2004.

Hawthorn Football Club president and former Victorian premier Jeff Kennett said Frawley’s death was “sad beyond sad”, especially for his family.

In a candid interview with The Herald Sun two years ago, Frawley revealed that he had suffered a “nervous breakdown”.

In the depths of his depression, Frawley said he did not sleep for up to three weeks at a time.

“The darkest days for me were when I’d come to the realisation of how bad I was, and that I wasn’t going to get any better,’’ he said.

If you or someone you know needs help, contact LifeLine on 13 11 14

“It is a tragic time for all.

“Danny gave us so many laughs and magic moments, from his playing days at St Kilda, coaching at Richmond and then his gifted touches at Fox Footy, as late as Saturday night on his favourite program, Bounce.”

TJ's emotional tribute to his dear friend, Danny Frawley. #AFL pic.twitter.com/FYfHATNoe0

— The AFL Footy Show (@AFLFootyShow) September 9, 2019

Frawley’s career

Regarded as one of the top full-backs of his era, Frawley played 240 games for St Kilda until he retired in 1995.

Known as “Spud” due to his background in potato farming, he was recruited by the club from St Patrick’s College in Ballarat and was, at the time of his retirement, the longest serving captain of St Kilda in its history.

Danny Frawley of the St Kilda Saints in action during the 1990's AFL match held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

He was inducted into the club’s hall of fame in 2007

He went on to coach Richmond for five years until 2004, before becoming the chief executive of the AFL Coaches’ Association.

It was in that job that Frawley said that he realised he had battles with mental health.