Research Recent Deaths

[The Blue Max]

When I was a kid and occasionally would listen to footy on ABC radio and hear a VFL game called in SA, and also shield and test cricket, I'd hear Clarke Hansen, Peter Smooth Booth and Graham Smokey Dawson calling games in Melbourne. I do remember him hosting the Winners, and calling tennis and being part of ABC's Olympics coverage.

View attachment 2603072

He ended up being ABC radio chief of sport - got very cranky with his employer on radio once.

 

[killer]

BobCarson SF

 

[cisco]

Geoff Ablett passed away

 

[rbartlett]

We will publish something on Richmond website, I'm just waiting for the faimly to make an official announcement (like family death notice or something), as currently everyone is working from the Almanac article

Geoff Ablett's death date is April 29th 2026

Ablett, Geoffrey | nielsen-funerals

www.nielsenfunerals.com.au

 

[rbartlett]

Doug Searl

Vale Doug Searl

The Brisbane Lions are mourning the loss of former Fitzroy player and Lions Life Member Doug Searl, who passed away on Sunday at the age of 79.

www.lions.com.au

Awaiting family death notice to confirm that the death date published is correct

 

[rbartlett]

Doug Searl

Vale Doug Searl

The Brisbane Lions are mourning the loss of former Fitzroy player and Lions Life Member Doug Searl, who passed away on Sunday at the age of 79.

www.lions.com.au

Awaiting family death notice to confirm that the death date published is correct

His RFC obit https://www.richmondfc.com.au/news/2020495/vale-doug-searl

Someone may need to complete the updating of his Wiki page.
At some point, his coaching info box should probably break down the years he coached Fitz , Richmond , and the flags

 

[killer]

Amazed that he never got a senior coaching gig

 

[WhiteHartLane23]

Peter Aitken (Carlton) died on 4/12/2025, aged 90 - seems to have been missed by footy folk
Link to funeral recording - also played for Melbourne reserves

Oliver G Supermercado The Blueseum

 

[35Daicos]

Peter Aitken (Carlton) died on 4/12/2025, aged 90 - seems to have been missed by footy folk
Link to funeral recording - also played for Melbourne reserves

Oliver G Supermercado The Blueseum

Should be 91!:

 

[WhiteHartLane23]

Dave Burt (Coll) also seems to have died last year - 14 Feb 2025 according to Ryerson

Oliver G

 

[35Daicos]

Dave Burt (Coll) also seems to have died last year - 14 Feb 2025 according to Ryerson
View attachment 2615747
Oliver G

Bloody hell! Nice work again.

 

[RedmanWasHere]

Dave Burt (Coll) also seems to have died last year - 14 Feb 2025 according to Ryerson
View attachment 2615747
Oliver G

"Other Details" is a heading I've not seen before in the Ryerson index.

Must've been added as part of its update.

Was badly needed.

 

[WhiteHartLane23]

Max Byers (Ess/Hobart) died on 19 Apr 2026
See death notice and video of funeral shows matching dob at 5min mark
Oliver G

 

[WhiteHartLane23]

Bob Clifford (Rich) died on 4 May 2024 - see death notice here
rbartlett Oliver G

 

[rbartlett]

Bob Clifford (Rich) died on 4 May 2024 - see death notice here
rbartlett Oliver G

Thanks for the notification - wouldn't have been aware if you hadn't of spotted it

 

[HitTheNailOnTheHead]

Not long into 2026 and we've already got someone who's died.

Phoenix Spicer. (NM 2021-23 plus 12 games and 2 goals.)

23 years old. Tragic.

 

[HitTheNailOnTheHead]

Did we ever find out anything more about Cam McCarthy who died just after he turned 29 in 2024? All the news reports at the time said the family didn't reveal anything other than the fact he was found non-responsive at his home.

 

[GreyCrow]

Did we ever find out anything more about Cam McCarthy who died just after he turned 29 in 2024? All the news reports at the time said the family didn't reveal anything other than the fact he was found non-responsive at his home.

Reading between he lines its likely drug adjaent

Just a note this is a thread to inform about recent deaths of Australian Rules Footballers - there is a '' small questions '' thread which would be more aproppriate for your enquiry

 

[HitTheNailOnTheHead]

Reading between he lines its likely drug adjaent

What makes you say that? Prescribed? Illicit?

Just a note this is a thread to inform about recent deaths of Australian Rules Footballers - there is a '' small questions '' thread which would be more appropriate for your enquiry

Thanks I'll keep it in mind going forward although I feel I have to remark thus - how recent is recent? The OP at various times has informed people about deaths that had happened more than a year prior to the date of his post. There are a multitude of other posts where people are informing people about deaths that had taken place more than three years earlier and discussion ensued regarding the cause of death. I notice you didn't object on those occasions but like I said I'm sorry if I have offended anyone.

 

[GreyCrow]

What makes you say that? Prescribed? Illicit?

I dont know.

Thanks I'll keep it in mind going forward although I feel I have to remark thus - how recent is recent? The OP at various times has informed people about deaths that had happened more than a year prior to the date of his post. There are a multitude of other posts where people are informing people about deaths that had taken place more than three years earlier and discussion ensued regarding the cause of death. I notice you didn't object on those occasions but like I said I'm sorry if I have offended anyone.

Lets take your 2 examples - McCarthy and Spicer - these were known

Again this thread is an information one to assist researchers and compilers - when an old death is found it is posted to help sites like Wikipedia and Australian Football to rectify records - some club historians also peruse these posts

As you rightly pointed out some of these deaths are old - but its more record keeping than any other function

 

[WhiteHartLane23]

Alan McGill (Footscray) died on 28 Jan 2026
Death notice has DOB of 9 May 1939 rather than 9 Apr 1939 - suspect footy records also have an incorrect birth date as the May date matches birth date on his plumbing apprenticeship card in 1954 (visible on Ancestry)
Oliver G

 

[WhiteHartLane23]

Ian Fleming (Footscray) died on 20 Oct 2025 - see death notice
Oliver G

 

[rbartlett]

Does someone have details about what Ken Ward's full name is please?

Ken Ward - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

I only have Ken J Ward.
His last mailing address was in Currumundi QLD, and a former player who lived in the same building as him remembers him moving out a couple of years ago. RFChave lost contact, and being now around 91, I wonder if a possible death has slipped under the radar.

I do notice on Ryerson a Kenneth John Ward dying in Victoria Point QLD 9about 1.5hr from Currumundi) in Sept 2025 as per a probate, so wondering if thats him

 

[rbartlett]

Looks like Brian Pilcher (RFC 1957-58) , died September 22 2022 in Bayswater.
Date of birth matches on his wiki and the findagrave. When I sent a letter to him several months ago to postal address in Bayswater I received no response.

Brian Pilcher - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Summary: Brian Pilcher died 22 September 2022
Can our wiki person please update when appropriate

 

[WhiteHartLane23]

Does someone have details about what Ken Ward's full name is please?

Ken Ward - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

I only have Ken J Ward.
His last mailing address was in Currumundi QLD, and a former player who lived in the same building as him remembers him moving out a couple of years ago. RFChave lost contact, and being now around 91, I wonder if a possible death has slipped under the radar.

I do notice on Ryerson a Kenneth John Ward dying in Victoria Point QLD 9about 1.5hr from Currumundi) in Sept 2025 as per a probate, so wondering if thats him
View attachment 2617496

I have him as Kenneth John Ward - in 1967 electoral rolls there is a Kenneth John Ward living in Burwood (player came from Ashburton so this makes sense) - subsequently moved to Mentone and has occupation "Sales"