The son of Adelaide Crows coach Phil Walsh is charged with his murder.  26-year old Cy Walsh is detained at Flinders Medical Center for a psychiatric evaluation.  It’s a horrifying end to a decades-long AFL career that left Footy fans and Australians in general stunned at the news.

AFL fans have already begun their own tributes to the elder Walsh by flying their team colors of navy blue, red, and gold in public, hanging their scarves and guernseys outside their homes, and posting the images on social media.  You can see these photos and join in by using the hashtags “#weflyasone”, “#ripwalshy”, “#RIPPhilWalsh”.

Police and ambulance crews were called to the house on Bungey Avenue in Somerton Park, SA early on Friday morning.  They found 55-year old Phil Walsh with multiple stab wounds; and despite valiant efforts to save him, Phil died at the scene.  Police recovered a knife they believe to be the murder weapon.  Phil’s wife Meredith was taken to hospital with a leg injury.  Investigators searched for Cy Walsh; they found him a few kilometer away at First Avenue in Glenelg East, a short time later.

“Our industry is grieving today, and we send our love and support to the Walsh family, the Crows staff and players, Phil’s wider circle of friends, the other clubs he worked with and his many colleagues across the AFL,” said the league’s Chief Executive Gillon McLachlan.

Phil Walsh made his VFL debut with Collingwood in 1983, and also played for Richmond and the Brisbane Bears.  After his playing career, he moved into assistant coaching at Geelong; Port Adelaide; West Coast; and back to the Power before getting the big job with the Crows in 2014.

In what is now a sad and ominous interview given in April, Walsh worried that 33 years focused on his career had affected his family life.

“I just immersed myself, got consumed and was selfish with as much time I committed to footy,” Walsh said.  “I lost that connection and I’m trying to reconnect with my son, which I have done.”

McLachlan and the AFL have cancelled Sunday’s meeting of Adelaide and the Geelong Cats.  Points will be shared.  The remainder of Round 14 will go ahead as scheduled.