AFL 2025 round 10 LIVE updates: Gold Coast Suns, Hawthorn Hawks test finals credentials; Robert Walls remembered
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6.31pm
Vale Robert Walls
By Roy Ward
The AFL world is in mourning after the passing of the playing and coaching great Robert Walls who died earlier today.
Walls, 74, won premierships at Carlton as a player and coach while also spending influential years coaching Fitzroy and the fledgling Brisbane Bears, he was also a fearless commentator who wrote columns and other stores for this masthead for many years.
While his coaching persona was that of an intense, demanding leader, those who knew him would comment on his kindness, care and humour.
Andrew Stafford has written a lovely obituary that you can read here and we have setup links to several of his best columns here, I recommend the one on regrets as it has a poignancy to it now.
One story I noted today came from a typically frank and fearless appearance by Walls on The Greatest Season that was 1993 podcast where he recounted some of the struggles he had keeping and caring for his players in in the AFL's early years in Brisbane and the Gold Coast.
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Those struggles came at the same as some critics in Melbourne, including old Walls rival Kevin Sheedy, accused the Bears of being a club for players to take early retirement out of the spotlight.
'This player was one of the most respected players and, looking back on my career, I probably loved this player more than anyone - he couldn't get his money at the end of the year,' Walls told The Greatest Season that was 1993 podcast.
'He had promised his wife he would take her and the kids on holiday at the end of the season. He couldn't get his money, the club didn't have the money.
'I went to the bank and took out $7000 of my own money and gave it to him. Kevin Sheedy didn't have to do that at Essendon I can assure you.'
6.21pm
De Koning out for Blues
The Blues have suffered a big loss from tomorrow's clash with Sydney with big man Tom De Koning withdrawn today due to the effects of a larynx injury suffered last weekend.
Ruckman Marc Pittonet is expected to replace him in the side and will play his first game of 2025.
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