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Head coach of the Adelaide Crows, Phil Walsh, has died following a domestic dispute at his home in Adelaide.
Police were called to a Somerton Park address in the early hours of Friday morning to discover Walsh with multiple stab wounds.
His wife also suffered a non life threatening injury to her leg.
Walsh’s daughter is currently on an overseas holiday.
It is understood that Walsh’s 26-year-old son fled the scene, but was soon found in the nearby suburb of Glenelg East. He has been arrested, charged with murder, and is currently being held for psychiatric assessment in an Adelaide hospital.
A South Australian Police detective told reporters at the scene that, “There’s been an argument, I can’t tell you anything about the argument… but as a result of that both Mr Walsh and his wife received a wound and the wound ultimately caused Mr Walsh’s death.
“A knife was used in the attack and that has been found at the scene. At this stage, we won’t say what sort of knife.”
What is also known is that Walsh’s son was a resident of the family home. He is believed to have been elsewhere on Thursday evening, returning home at around 2am on Friday morning.
Superintendent Bray of the SA Police has told the media that at around 2am, “Somebody from the house called triple-0 and asked for an ambulance and the ambulance contacted police.
“What transpired I actually can’t tell you. I’m sure we will establish exactly what happened and what led to this tragic event.
“It’s just terrible that a family has been torn apart. It’s just one of the worst things you could image could happen to you.”
SA Police released the following statement on Friday morning:
UPDATE: Police can confirm that the man murdered at Somerton Park in the early hours of the morning is Phil Walsh, coach of the Adelaide Crows and his son, aged 26, has been charged with murder.
Just after 2am, police and ambulance crews were called to a house in Bungey Avenue after a domestic dispute.
Ambulance crews treated a seriously injured 55-year-old man at the home but sadly he died at the scene. The man’s son, aged 26, has been arrested but no charge has yet been laid.
The deceased’s wife sustained non life threatening injuries during the incident and is currently receiving treatment in hospital.
Sturt CIB and Major Crime Detectives remain at the scene and investigations continue.
The Crows scheduled match against the Geelong Cats at Adelaide Oval on Sunday afternoon has been cancelled.
Phil Walsh was known as a master tactician during his time at Port Adelaide. (Photo: Michael Willson/AFL Media)
The AFL released the following statement via Twitter:
The AFL has released the following statement after the passing of @Adelaide_FC coach Phil Walsh. pic.twitter.com/jepUHo6ZSv
— AFL (@AFL) July 3, 2015
The Adelaide Football Club released the following statement on Friday morning:
The Adelaide Football Club is devastated at the sudden passing of Senior Coach Phil Walsh in the early hours of this morning.
We ask if you could please respect the privacy of his family, as well as our players, coaches and staff, at this extremely difficult time. The Club will hold a media conference at some stage this afternoon.
The life of Phil Walsh (March 15, 1960 – July 3,2015)
1983 – Makes VFL debut for the Collingwood Football Club
1984 – Moves to Richmond Football Club where he remains until the end of the 1986 season
1987 – Joins the founding Brisbane Bears squad – wins inaugural Best and Fairest
1990 – Plays final professional football match, finishing with 122 games and 41 goals
1996 – Joins Geelong as a fitness coordinator
1999 – Becomes an assistant coach at the Port Adelaide Football Club
2004 – Wins 2004 Premiership with Port Adelaide as an assistant coach
2009 – Makes the move west to coach beneath John Worsfold at the West Coast Eagles
2014 – Returns to Adelaide as an assistant coach at Port Adelaide
2015 – Appointed as senior coach of the Adelaide Crows
Tributes for Walsh, who played and coached at seven AFL clubs, have been flowing in thick and fast on social media in the wake of the news.
After a life in football we were really only just getting to know Phil Walsh, a genuinely fascinating man. A shocking loss #RIP
— Gerard Whateley (@GerardWhateley) July 2, 2015
RIP Phil Walsh pic.twitter.com/HtpzkCQXn1
— AFL Photos (@AFLphotos) July 2, 2015
I don't know how the crows can go out and play this weekend. Not sure they should. Maybe @AFL should consider calling the game off.
— Nat Edwards (@NatEdwards_AFL) July 2, 2015
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