AFL Cancels Crows/Cats Game, As The Footy World Mourns Phil Walsh’s Death

By

Cam Tyeson

Published

The AFL‘s head honcho Gillon McLachlan has announced that the Round 14 game between the Adelaide Crows and the Geelong Cats – originally scheduled for Sunday afternoon at the Adelaide Oval – will not go ahead in the wake of the tragic death of Crows senior coach Phil Walsh earlier this morning.
In a press conference held a short time ago, McLachlan extended the AFL’s sincerest sympathies to Walsh’s family and friends, as well as the Adelaide Football Club players and staff.
“Our game is in mourning today, and I speak for the whole the AFL, our clubs, our players, and our staff in passing our deepest sympathies to Phil Walsh’s family and friends.”

“He was a man of boundless energy, enthusiasm, and great intelligence.”

Despite speculation that the AFL could potentially postpone the full remainder of the round, the AFL decided to cancel the Crows/Cats game in total, with the 4 Premiership Points to be split between the clubs.

“Today, I have spoken with many people in the industry, briefed all our club CEOs, and the commission.”

“We have decided that the game on Sunday between Adelaide and Geelong will not go ahead. This is a decision of the competition in a mark of respect for Phil Walsh.”

“We are strongly of the view that it is not fair to ask the young men of the Adelaide and Geelong football clubs to play under these circumstances.”

“The Premiership Points will be split between the two clubs, as per the AFL rules.”

McLachlan further stated that the remaining seven games of Round 14 will go ahead as scheduled, beginning with tonight’s clash between Collingwood and Hawthorn at the MCG.

“The remaining seven games will go ahead starting tonight. We know the usual passion and fun will not be there. But we know that the clubs will join us in paying respect [to Phil.]”
Earlier, South Australian Police confirmed that Walsh’s 26 year-old son Cy has been charged with his father’s murder. Cy Walsh remains under psychiatric evaluation at Flinders Medical Centre, and will face a bedside committal hearing later this afternoon.
Detectives apprehended Cy at a friend’s house in Glenelg East a short time after being called to the Walsh house. Around lunchtime investigators at the scene removed a knife from a car boot.
Police have appealed for anyone who may have seen Cy during the early hours of this morning to contact them as soon as possible.

Elsewhere, the footy world has been in a state of shock and mourning since news broke earlier today. Players, coaches, and media figures have taken to social media to express their shock and grief.

Footy fans around the country have displayed a show of solidarity by hanging scarves outside in tribute to Walsh and the Crows – similar to the #PutOutYourBats display following the passing of Test batsman Phillip Hughes last year – and shared images online using the hashtags #ScarvesOutForWalshy and #WeFlyAsOne.

Photo: Daniel Kalisz via Getty Images.


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