Death of AFL Adelaide Crows Coach Phil Walsh

Written by Will Crouch, Assistant Producer at Channel 9 News Adelaide.
Submitted by Craig Broman, Adelaide Director of City Bible Forum.

One fan responds to the death of Phil Walsh.

As a die-hard Adelaide Crows fan, I've experienced plenty of hardship in recent years.

Football supporters seem to all have especially long memories when it comes to these hardships. It's been nearly 20 years since Malcolm Blight led Adelaide to the promised land, and ever since those legendary back to back seasons, many painful memories still burn in the minds of the Crows' faithful.

Crows' fans haven't forgotten Jack Anthony's season ending goal in the 2009 semi final. More painful, Lance Franklin's go-ahead in the 2012 preliminary final. No-one will ever forget Kurt Tippett's acrimonious departure - or the fallout that followed. Jack Gunston is still booed every time he comes to Adelaide. Don't start on Taylor Walker's shredded ACL.

Words like tragedy, heartbreak, and agony are often tossed around describing the events which leave us frustrated, hurt, or disappointed. They're thrown around carelessly by exasperated fans, new-age tabloid media, and non-stop social commentary.

Agony may rightfully capture the pain Taylor Walker felt tearing his anterior cruciate ligaments (ACL).

Heartbreak may seem like a worthy choice of word after watching the Crows lose a preliminary final by less than a goal.

But tragedy is too powerful for football.

Phil Walsh, coach of the Adelaide Crows, was murdered in the early hours of Friday morning.

And his death is not only painfully agonising, or utterly heartbreaking, but is a complete tragedy.

It transcends the game of football.

The agony felt by family, friends and those close to him is more painful than any knee injury.

The heartbreak caused to Crows supporters is worse than any lost premiership.

People love footy because it's an escape. The cold nights and hot pies. The patriotic scarves and replica jerseys. The loud cheering and proud chanting. The loyal camaraderie and fierce rivalry.

It's an escape to become something bigger than ourselves.

It's something anyone can be a part of. Something they can put their faith in. Something they can be passionate about.

But when it's all said and done, it's just a game. There's always next year.

But it's not the same in reality.

There's no next weekend for Phil Walsh. No next season. No second chance.

Jesus says in Matthew 5:4,

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted."

This tragedy has left many who never met Phil Walsh feeling despondent, anxious, and vulnerable.

And even in the face of agony, heartbreak, and tragedy, we are right to have these feelings, and mourn the loss of a man we didn't know, but supported passionately.

Football isn't supposed to make us feel these things. But in something that we follow from the outside looking in, something that to many is merely an escape, we can take heart knowing that Jesus is real. His word is alive and living. And we will be comforted in our time of mourning.

People in sports have long memories. This tragedy won't ever be forgotten. It will leave a devastating and lasting effect on everyone associated with Phil Walsh and the Adelaide Crows. These wounds will take time to heal. But we can take heart knowing we are guaranteed the comfort Jesus promises.

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Image courtesy: Channel 9 News Adelaide

Contact the Adelaide Team if you want to find out more about the comfort that Jesus offers.

Want to make sense of Evil? Come to a City Bible Forum event in Adelaide tonight 7 July 2015: A Necessary Evil