In brief
Robert Walls, a distinguished figure in the Australian Football League (AFL), has passed away at the age of 74 after invoking voluntary assisted dying laws. Walls, a veteran of the Carlton Football Club, achieved significant success as both a player and coach, securing three premierships as a player and one as coach. He was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in 2023, prompting his decision for voluntary assisted dying. Walls spent his last moments surrounded by family in his apartment overlooking the Melbourne Cricket Ground, a testament to his enduring connection to the sport. His family shared that he had chosen to end his two-year battle with cancer, which required extensive hospitalization. The Carlton Football Club paid tribute to Walls, honoring his legacy as a "great servant" of the game. He leaves behind three children and his partner Julie, following the loss of his wife Erin to cancer in 2006.
