Essendon premiership player Dean Wallis suffers major heart attack

Essendon premiership player and famed hard man Dean Wallis has been rushed to hospital in Bendigo after suffering a major heart attack.

Dean Wallis celebrates Essendon’s 2000 premiership with coach Kevin Sheedy.

Dual Essendon premiership defender Dean Wallis has suffered a major heart attack in Echuca.

Wallis was initially rushed to the local hospital before being transferred to Bendigo, where he had lifesaving surgery.

The Bombers hard man, who was working in Echuca, is recovering well and was able to reach out to concerned teammates on Sunday.

Wallis is 52, the same age as cricket legend Shane Warne and politician Kimberley Kitching who both died suddenly of a heart attack over the past week.

He attended Essendon’s Hall of Fame function last month, where he celebrated the elevation of Neale Daniher, the late Dr Bruce Reid, Dustin Fletcher and Gavin Wanganeen to Legend status.

Wallis played in the 1993 and 2000 premiership teams under legendary coach Kevin Sheedy, and was later an assistant under James Hird.

He had a falling out with the Bombers two years ago when he attacked the current administration, saying he was disenchanted by the direction the club was heading.

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Dean Wallis coaching Essendon Doutta Stars in 2018. Picture: AAP Image/James Ross

The former defender called for a “review and investigation” into the club, who he labelled “impostors”.

“If there was an Olympic Games for impostors in the AFL, Essendon would win gold, silver and bronze,” he told the Herald Sun.

“Some people will have a go at me for speaking out like this, but someone needs to stand up. The reality is, I’m just a past player who cares about his club.

“There needs to be a full review and investigation into the ongoings of the past and hopefully there are some passionate Essendon heavy hitters that can rally together to make drastic and necessary changes.”

It’s understood things had improved recently between the current management and Wallis, as indicated by his attendance at the Hall of Fame event.

Wallis played 127 games between 1987 and 2001. His son Tom was briefly on Essendon’s rookie list.

Originally published as Essendon premiership player Dean Wallis suffers major heart attack