The late Phil Walsh’s contribution to Australian Football will be honoured with a permanent memorial at Adelaide Oval.
To mark the first anniversary of his passing, the Club has dedicated a tree on the north eastern outskirts of the ground and created a place where Crows fans and the wider football community can pay their respects.
Spread around the roots of the red oak tree is mulch created from thousands of floral tributes left outside the Club’s West Lakes headquarters last July.
The Crows also commissioned Adelaide-based Jordan Memorials to produce a bronze plaque mounted on granite which also recognises Walsh’s love for Japanese culture and reads:
This tree is dedicated to the memory of Phillip Walsh who lost his life on July 3, 2015.
A leader with integrity and passion, Phil made a significant contribution to the lives of many in the game of football that he so dearly loved.
強さで 耐える
“To Endure With Strength”
Walsh played 122 games for Collingwood, Richmond and Brisbane, before moving into coaching where he served as a fitness coach at Geelong, along with stints as an assistant at Port Adelaide and West Coast.
He stepped up to the role of Senior Coach of the Crows for the 2015 season and took charge for 12 matches before his sudden death.
Crows Chief Executive Andrew Fagan said the former coach had left a lasting impression on everyone at the Club.
“As always, all of our thoughts are with Meredith and Quinn and their extended family and close friends,” Fagan said.
“Walshy spent a lifetime in footy and whilst only a part of our Club for a relatively short period, he left a lasting footprint.
“His principles of team-first, elite standards, hard work and attention to detail formed the foundation of the journey we are on today.”
Fagan said the memorial tree and plaque were a fitting tribute to a man who made a significant contribution to our game.
“The outpouring of emotion and response especially here in South Australia at the time of his passing was nothing short of extraordinary,” he said.
“One of Walshy’s favourite sayings was ‘get the job done’ and that is what our players will be looking to do against Melbourne on Sunday.”
The plaque honouring Phil Walsh below the red oak tree at Adelaide Oval
