Vale Robert Walls

[Romeoh1]

Always liked him. Intelligent commentary. Glad he went out on his own terms.

 

[iameviljez]

Good on him for going out on his own terms, I really respect that.

Tell you what - if diagnosed with terminal cancer, I'd rather go out without enormous loads of painkillers that still don't do the job, over twenty minutes, with loved ones around the bed, than wait for the end. There are many worse things than death.

 

[Corn Cobbers]

"What do you think of those fluorescent orange boots Robert?"

"Errr... I hope he can play"

 

[Son of Superboot]

A great coach, who lead the Roys to one of their last serious finals campaigns (83) and was instrumental and in turning the Bears around and creating the foundations of the 01-02-03 GF success.

Was prepared to call a spade a shovel, he told it like it was.

In memory or Walls this weekend, I suggest we play our struggling forwards , Charlie Cameron

23

Charlie Cameron

Age

31

Ht

180cm

Wt

76kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.1

3star

K

8.4

3star

HB

3.7

3star

M

3.0

3star

T

3.2

5star

G

1.5

5star

D

9.6

2star

K

7.9

3star

HB

1.7

1star

M

3.6

4star

T

1.7

3star

G

1.9

5star

D

9.6

3star

K

5.4

2star

HB

4.2

4star

M

1.4

2star

T

3.4

5star

G

1.2

4star

, in the ruck

 

[Jane Doe]

Very sad to hear. Was unlucky to not win a flag at Fitzroy especially in 1983. Does anyone have the link to Mike Sheehan's tribute to Robert Walls?

 

[RedWhite4Ever]

Gee...

 

[darcytiger]

Any forward struggling for a kick this weekend should be thrown into the ruck in his honour.

 

[Mr Shankly]

Always liked him. Intelligent commentary. Glad he went out on his own terms.

Sums it up for me too. I enjoyed his commentary, it was almost always informed and passionate, with a bit of humour. The give-him-a-run-in-the-ruck line is iconic, my mates and I still use it when watching games.

Nothing but respect for his choice to end his suffering.

 

[Young Redleg]

It is always sad when a public figure dies.

I didn't mind Wallsy.

I pray God may be merciful to him.

But a part of me can't help but think he took somewhat of a cowardly way out.

'Cowardly.' Give me a break, no one should be obliged to suffer longer than they need to

 

[Roobs321]

wallsy was a beloved figure in the game, he had his place. Even if you sometimes disagreed you took the time to listen. Sad sense of loss upon reading the news, as he takes an old school slice of the game with him. Could imagine a player reunion where you share a few laughs about when he coached.

from an Eagles perspective, his Ten special comments during the mid 00s Swans rivalry, the evil Eagles (went to that game), the 2018 spoon prediction. Non-Eagles, the Bret Thornton

Bret Thornton

Age

42

Ht

192cm

Wt

94kg

Pos.

D/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

13.9

4star

K

9.2

4star

HB

4.7

3star

M

5.3

5star

T

1.0

3star

No current season stats available

D

9.6

3star

K

6.2

3star

HB

3.4

3star

M

3.2

4star

T

1.0

3star

melt was excessive but iconic.

was gutted for him when the Tigers sacked him, felt harsh at the time

2nd most recent guy (Woosha 2006) to have captained a club and later coach it to a flag (1987). He did it all.

 

[NorthernBastard]

A true great on and off the field.

 

[davos44]

Loved Robert Walls, always had plenty of conviction and called a spade a spade in commentary.

His peak was taking down Kevin Sheedy and making him look like a dill on National TV.

Turned Brisbane around like Barassi did with Sydney (and Melbourne in the 80s). Took them from a basket case to a competitive club and left just as they were getting good.

Got Fitzroy to the finals in 1981 and 1983 after being bottom, guy could coach and play.

Ended his life the way you should be able to.

10/10

 

[PerthBoy86]

Great player and coach, will be missed. Had some good takes but also some memorably bad ones. Eagles for the 2018 wooden spoon obviously stands out.

 

[Espe]

It is always sad when a public figure dies.

I didn't mind Wallsy.

I pray God may be merciful to him.

But a part of me can't help but think he took somewhat of a cowardly way out.

So you actually think people who are going to die should suffer the pain and misery all the way through till their inevitable end so they arent seen as 'cowards'?

What a take. Will never understand this logic.

 

[MC Extra Dollop]

I think he's achieved a rare trifecta: I think he's underrated as a player, coach and journalist/commentator.

I'd take Walls any day of the week over most of the recently retired ex-players that occupy the umpteen panel discussion shows that we are 'blessed' with. His articles were always thoughtful and worth reading and probably give a fair indication of the quality of the letters that he used to write to each player after every game that he coached them in.

Had his flaws and incidents that he was less than proud of, but he was as hard on himself as he was on others and had no problem giving himself a clip when he felt he deserved it.

 

[Young Redleg]

So you actually think people who are going to die should suffer all the way through till their inevitable end so they arent seen as 'cowards'?

What a take. Will never understand this logic.

I knew it was a red flag as soon as he brought God into it lol

 

[Rabish Binney]

It is always sad when a public figure dies.

I didn't mind Wallsy.

I pray God may be merciful to him.

But a part of me can't help but think he took somewhat of a cowardly way out.

Your kidding right?

 

[hilly]

It is always sad when a public figure dies.

I didn't mind Wallsy.

I pray God may be merciful to him.

But a part of me can't help but think he took somewhat of a cowardly way out.

What a load of crap.

Time to give Larkey a run in the ruck Clarko.

 

[Rabish Binney]

Loved it when he got stuck right into that righteous flog Kevin Sheedy on TV....

 

[Rusty Brookes]

Look how skinny he was when he played. Took a lot of guts to play when he wasn't a massive physical specimen in an era where violence was accepted, if not encouraged.

 

[RAPPA]

Loved the bake he gave Thornton on commentary when he gave away a 50m penalty in a game.

 

[Partridge]

Robert Walls' Open Mike interview is probably (and I'm not just saying this in light of his death), my favourite Open Mike interview. He completely changed my mind on him over the space of 30 minutes.

Going in, I didn't really rate his as a commentator, nor as a coach - he seemed to be a bit of a grumpy old dinosaur from a bygone era.

However, his honesty, frankness and openness was completely disarming, as well as his pride in his own achievements (especially at Brisbane and Fitzroy). I've never seen someone on Open Mike ever openly admit that he deserved to get the arse as a coach, or that he was a dirty footballer who owed Peter Knights an apology. And he was dead right about his achievements at Brisbane; the winning percentage wasn't great, but the trajectory was.

Yeah that's a great interview. I gained massive belated respect for him for two reasons:

1. Telling John Elliott what he thought of him face to face. Legend.
2. Confronting Kevin Sheedy directly on live TV, so we got to see Sheedy immediately turn into the gutless smarmy weasel that he is.

As you said, have to respect that he didn't sugarcoat or apologise for the past. It was a different time. Deal with it.

Mentioned this previously, my father-in-law told me the sat next to him (by chance) at local footy a few years ago and had a great chat. Wallsy even shouted the coffees. Said he was an absolute ripper and absolutely zero ego or airs.

Good on him.

 

[Partridge]

Look how skinny he was when he played. Took a lot of guts to play when he wasn't a massive physical specimen in an era where violence was accepted, if not encouraged.

Yeah you didn't survive in that era unless you had a fair bit of "intestinal fortitude". Not to mention talent as well.

 

[Sphynx]

Dignified, brave and with autonomy.

Yep, hope if anything this sheds some support towards it.

He didn’t need to hide it, didn’t have to have his family find him somewhere, got to call up his mates and say good bye without deceit.

As you said, with dignity.

 

[Sphynx]

Well, yeah.

I think anytime some commits suicide, there is an element of cowardice. It is terribly sad, and I have prayed that God would have mercy on Wallsy, as I don't every recall him ever expressing any acknowledgement of God's incredible care and love for him.

Assisted suicide seems particularly at odds with someone who made a life/career out of being tough and courageous.

He wouldn't see it through it seems.

He didn’t though, did he?

Technically, you should be calling the doctor (who administers it) a murderer…

So, the almighty will let him straight in as a poor murdered soul…

So your argument is frankly all over the shop…