Football great Robert Walls was remembered as a devoted family man, mentor and friend in a touching service celebrating his life.
About 600 mourners, including football friends and foes, heard from his beloved family, former colleagues and players at the Members Dining Room of the MCG, a venue where he achieved the ultimate as player and coach four times in his fabled football career.
Robert Walls has been farewelled at a service at the MCG.Credit: Getty Images
Carlton greats from today and yesteryear paid respects to four-time flag winner Walls, including his 1987 premiership captain Stephen Kernahan, Stephen Silvagni and Craig Bradley, and current coach and protege Michael Voss.
Others to hear of the life and times of Walls included his former sparring partners Kevin Sheedy and Mick Malthouse, AFL chief Andrew Dillon and players from the four clubs he coached – Carlton, Fitzroy, Brisbane and Richmond – including Nathan Buckley, Wayne Campbell and Gary Pert.
Walls had the rare distinction of making significant contributions as a player, coach and media personality.
Essendon president David Barham signed Walls as a media commentator in 1997 and for Ten in the 2000s. They became close friends.
“Wallsy set the standard for expert commentators. He remains the best I have ever seen,” he said. “At times he was blunt, and brutally honest, but it never came from anything other than what he believed was right and fair.”
Barham recalled a behind-the-scenes story about Meat Loaf’s infamous performance at the 2011 grand final. Walls, Barham said, had been highly critical of Meat Loaf, who was about to pull out of singing due to the wet weather.
There were concerns from Meat Loaf’s representatives about safety in performing on an outside stage.
“It was big news, and given this was our [Ten’s] last grand final, and we had lost the rights earlier in the year to the AFL, the confidentiality part slipped my mind, and I decided I would tell Wallsy,” Barham said.
Meat Loaf’s performance at the AFL grand final in 2011 went down in history.Credit: Getty Images
“He didn’t take it well. He lived his life by fronting up no matter what, and he didn’t take to people who dodged their responsibilities. On air, he gave Meatloaf one of his better sprays … along the lines of ‘he just must front up and perform … he’s being paid a lot of money … it’s just a bit of a drizzle… if he doesn’t perform I will’, and finished with my personal favourite: ‘Just tell the Big Loaf, to harden up and get out there …’
“Wallsy’s on air spray started a bit of a media bushfire and the news spread quickly. 3AW picked up the story and it blew up into a drama.
“Meatloaf’s man, turned directly to me and launched into me, he was screaming … ‘Walls … who’s Walls” … Walls’ … I looked him straight in the eye and said, ‘I have never heard of him’ … and then turned around and walked away, knowing Wallsy had single-handedly ensured Meatloaf’s half-time show was back on.
“Suffice to say, had it not been for Wallsy, we may not have the Meatloaf memory, something
we have all enjoyed talking about for more than a decade.
“Wallsy, if you are listening to this and you have ended up in the same place as Meatloaf, a warning, he will probably be looking for you, and I suggest an apology might be a good thing … however, if you do see him, tell him it was great TV.”
More to come
