‘Epitome of a beautiful man’: Tributes flow for AFL ‘icon’ Robert Walls, dead at 74

The AFL world is in mourning after the death of Robert Walls — a triple premiership Carlton player, premiership coach, Australian Football Hall of Fame member and one of the strongest, most respected footy voices the game has ever seen.

Walls, who had been battling a rare and aggressive blood cancer since 2023, died peacefully on Thursday morning in his unit overlooking the MCG. He was surrounded by family, as well as a doctor, after opting not to proceed with another round of chemotherapy.

He was 74.

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“Having battled cancer for more than two years, Robert did it his way and chose to end a fight that had seen him spend more than 250 nights in hospital during the past two years,” an AFL statement read.

“Having spent the last couple of weeks tidying up his affairs and catching up with family and close friends, he chose that over more and more hospital visits for treatment.”

Carlton captain Stephen Kernahan and coach Robert Walls with the 1987c premiership cup. Source: News Limited

The AFL also indicated Walls’ life and contribution to the game would be celebrated at the MCG in coming weeks.

Walls’ football involvement spanned over five decades: 14 years as a league player across two clubs, 16 years as a coach across four clubs, 25 years as a commentator and a lifetime as a self-proclaimed fan.

A rangy forward, Walls debuted for Carlton as a 16-year-old in 1967 and would go on to play 218 games for the Blues, including three flags (1968, 1970 and 1972). He would finishing his playing career at Fitzroy with 41 matches.

Walls moved straight into coaching, first taking charge of Fitzroy in 1981 for four seasons before returning to Carlton, where he led the Blues to the 1987 premiership. He then coached the Brisbane Bears from 1991 to 1995 before a two-season stint at Richmond.

AFL great Robert Walls with mates Mike Sheahan and Gerard Healy in 2024. Picture: Michael Klein Source: News Corp Australia

Walls then quickly and successfully moved into the footy media, quickly gaining a reputation for his considered yet forthright opinions and sharp analysis across television, radio and print.

He was a key member of Fox Footy’s long-running program On The Couch during the 2000s, alongside Brownlow Medallist Gerard Healy and former Herald Sun chief football writer Mike Sheahan.

Premiership Carlton teammate David McKay described Walls as “a very courageous player” and “one of those teammates who made you walk taller”.

“I wouldn’t say he was ruthless, but he didn’t cop any s**t. He was more forthright as a coach and commentator, but I never experienced that,” McKay said in Carlton’s tribute to Walls.

“One of the things I always admired about him was his ability to say the right thing at the right time. He was a statesman.

Michael Voss and his first coach and mentor Robert Walls. Picture: Jake Nowakowski Source: News Corp Australia

“‘Wallsy’ was a loyal and respected teammate, and one of the most talented players ever to turn out at Carlton. He was consistent and he gave his all. Even though he went to other clubs, he was Carlton through and through, because (Ron) Barassi and Jack Wrout instilled in him and in all of us that the Club was greater than the individual.”

Carlton legend Stephen Kernahan, who lifted the 1987 premiership cup with Walls, paid tribute to Walls on Thursday.

“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 – how would he go coaching the kids today? – 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.”

Walls was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame in 2006. He’s also a Hall of Fame member with Carlton (legend status) and Brisbane.

Lions chief executive Greg Swann said the club would honour Walls by wearing black armbands in its match against Melbourne at the Gabba on Sunday.

“Wallsy made a massive contribution to our club and the game as a player, coach and commentator,” Swann said.

“His fingerprints were all across the club’s three-peat of successes.”

AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon also called out Walls’ contribution as coach in the early days of the Brisbane Bears, saying “the game was better for Robert being in our ranks:.

“Robert Walls was a straight talker with very clear ideas on how the game should be played, and the requirements to be successful at the top level. He was beloved by his team mates and the players he led at senior level,” Mr Dillon said.

“His list of accomplishments are extraordinary for the breadth of his contribution across the game - both a Hall of Famer and a life member, he was a triple premiership player in the great Carlton sides under Ron Barassi and John Nicholls, a Carlton premiership coach in his time across leading four clubs, and then a leading figure in the media for two decades as a grand final television broadcaster, radio expert in all the big games, award-winning newspaper columnist and an All Australian selector for the league.

“Footy in the state (Queensland) is absolutely flying these days with the Lions and the Suns, and we have never forgotten that Robert did the hard yards for the game there when others didn’t want to risk their reputations, and he was a major contributor starting the careers of those greats who played in the Brisbane flag sides of 2001-2003.”

Tributes flowed for Walls on social media on Thursday.

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