Adelaide Crows coach Phil Walsh has been stabbed to death, police said on Friday morning.
South Australian police said police and ambulance crews were called to a house in Bungey Avenue, Somerton Park.
Ambulance crews treated Walsh, 55, for multiple stab wounds, but he died at the scene, police said. Walsh’s son, 26, was arrested, but no charges have been laid.
Walsh’s wife, Meredith, sustained non life-threatening injuries during the incident and was being treated in hospital.
Took this snap of Phil Walsh training at Vic park in 1983 same year he was named rookie of the year in the VFL. pic.twitter.com/aPJN29jkz9
— Gezza1967 YouTube (@Gezza1967) October 7, 2014
Speaking to media on Friday morning, Detective Superintendent Des Bray said they had been alerted to a stabbing incident shortly after 2am on Friday.
Police left the house to search for the son, who was found at First Avenue, Glenelg East, a short time later, Bray said. The son was arrested and detained for a psychiatric assessment at Flinders Medical Centre.
It was unclear how his Meredith Walsh was hurt but she sustained a leg injury, Bray said. No other person was believed to have been in the house.
A feeling of shock and disbelief at the @afc HQ. All players and coaching staff remain inside the club. #PhilWalsh pic.twitter.com/oe0vN13zAg
— Alissa Smith (@MissAlissaSmith) July 2, 2015
Walsh’s son lived with the family and the 000 call for an ambulance came from within the house. Ambulance officers then contacted the police.
Ambulance officers tried to resuscitate Walsh but he was declared dead by a doctor shortly afterwards.
Police will spend the morning knocking on neighbours’ doors as they investigate the circumstances of the crime.
The Crows are due to play Geelong at the Adelaide Oval on Sunday, but questions were immediately raised as to whether the game would go ahead after the news of Walsh’s death broke.
“I think they will play, the AFL will obviously have a look at this,” football commentator Dwayne Russell told 3AW radio.
“It will alter the fixture remarkably if they can’t take the field, but I think they have to think of the players themselves and the mental process that those players are going through. They’re virtually asking these players to go back to work days after they’ve heard probably the most horrible news of their lives.”
Former Adelaide captain Mark Bickley said the game should be postponed. “Taking away the fact that he is a football coach, the fact he is a father and a husband and all those things, that’s the thing we should be thinking about most,” he said.
Clubs started posting tributes to Walsh on social media early on Friday morning.
RIP Phil Walsh
— North Melbourne (@NMFCOfficial) July 2, 2015
All at St Kilda extend their sympathies to Phil Walsh's family and @Adelaide_FC at this devastating time. There are no words. #RIPPhilWalsh
— St Kilda FC (@stkildafc) July 2, 2015
An incredibly dark day. Our thoughts are with the family & friends of Phil Walsh along with the entire @Adelaide_FC community. Rest in peace
— GWS GIANTS (@GWSGIANTS) July 2, 2015
In an interview in April, Walsh said his focus on his career had impacted on his family life. He had been a player and coach for more than 33 years.
“I just immersed myself, got consumed and was selfish with as much time I committed to footy,” he said.
“I lost that connection and I’m trying to reconnect with my son, which I have done.”
Walsh played in the VFL for Collingwood, Richmond and the Brisbane Bears before beginning his AFL coaching career.
He began at Geelong, then became assistant coach at Port Adelaide in 1999, where helped the Power to a 2004 premiership.
He moved to the West Coast Eagles as assistant coach in 2009 before returning to the Power in 2014. He was appointed Adelaide Crows coach the same year, replacing Brenton Sanderson.
The former Richmond player and Nine Network commentator Nathan Brown said the death was shocking and would affect many AFL clubs.
“He’s been at half the AFL clubs,” Brown said. “This is going to touch so many people.”
