Carlton premiership player and coach Robert Walls dies aged 74
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Australian Football Hall of Fame member and Carlton great Robert Walls has died aged 74.
Walls passed away after using voluntary assisted dying laws.
Walls won three VFL premierships as a player and one as coach with the Blues.
His family released a statement on Thursday morning confirming Walls's passing.
Walls was diagnosed in 2023 with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, a rare and aggressive form of blood cancer.
Walls played 218 matches for the Blues, winning premierships in 1968, 1970 and in 1972.
He captained the club in 1977 and 1978, before joining Fitzroy mid-way through the 1978 season.
Walls ended his playing career in 1980, then coached Fitzroy from 1981-1985.
He returned to Carlton as coach in 1986, and guided the Blues to another premiership the following year.
Half of the players that enjoyed triple-premiership success with the Brisbane Lions from 2001-2003 were coached by Walls at the Bears.
Walls ended his coaching career in 1997 following a two-year stint at Richmond.
He moved into media where he worked for several broadcasters and became a columnist for The Age newspaper.
Carlton great Stephen Kernahan paid tribute to Walls, who he said was deeply admired by those in the AFL.
“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 – 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.”
Written for the ABC of Sport, ABC News.
Walls passed away after using voluntary assisted dying laws.
Walls won three VFL premierships as a player and one as coach with the Blues.
His family released a statement on Thursday morning confirming Walls's passing.
Carlton legend Robert Walls died at 74. (Getty Images: Michael Dodge)
Walls was diagnosed in 2023 with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, a rare and aggressive form of blood cancer.
Walls played 218 matches for the Blues, winning premierships in 1968, 1970 and in 1972.
He captained the club in 1977 and 1978, before joining Fitzroy mid-way through the 1978 season.
Walls played 218 games and won three premierships as a player for Carlton in between 1967 and 1978. (AAP Image/Supplied by Carlton Football Club)
Walls ended his playing career in 1980, then coached Fitzroy from 1981-1985.
He returned to Carlton as coach in 1986, and guided the Blues to another premiership the following year.
Walls moved to Queensland and coached the Gold Coast-based Brisbane Bears from 1991-1995.Half of the players that enjoyed triple-premiership success with the Brisbane Lions from 2001-2003 were coached by Walls at the Bears.
Walls ended his coaching career in 1997 following a two-year stint at Richmond.
He moved into media where he worked for several broadcasters and became a columnist for The Age newspaper.
Carlton great Stephen Kernahan paid tribute to Walls, who he said was deeply admired by those in the AFL.
“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 – 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.”
Written for the ABC of Sport, ABC News.
