CRASH SHOCK: TRIBUTES, TEARS FOR SPUD
DANNY WAS PASSIONATE ABOUT FOOTY AND PASSIONATE ABOUT PEOPLE. HE MADE SUCH A POSITIVE AND LASTING INFLUENCE ON SO MANY IN OUR GAME. AFL CEO GILLON McLACHLAN
THE footy and media community is in mourning and shock after the sudden death of Danny Frawley, who was killed in a car crash yesterday — a day after turning 56.
The St Kilda legend’s car ran off the road and crashed into a tree on the corner of Old Melbourne and Ryans Rd in Millbrook, near Ballan, at 1.30pm.
Emergency services said his injuries were so severe he could not be saved.
‘Spud’ Frawley was a popular Saint, and known as the knockabout potato farmer from Bungaree.
The AFL Life Member played 240 games from 1984-95, captained the Saints from 1987-94 and played 11 times for Victoria.
Frawley is survived by wife Anita and their daughters Danielle, Chelsea and Keeley.
Just yesterday afternoon, two of his daughters were seen buying their father a Country Road shirt in South Yarra for his 56th birthday.
Frawley recently spoke about his struggles with mental health and admitted to having a mental breakdown while covering a game at the MCG.
AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan led the tributes to the much-loved player, coach and media star.
“It is a devastating day for the wider football community, and Danny’s loss will be taken very hard by so many people within our industry, as well as within our own organisation,” Mr McLachlan said.
“Danny was passionate about footy and passionate about people. He made such a positive and lasting influence fl on so m many in our game.’’
Former radio colleague and Richmond legend Kevin Bartlett simply said: “Wonderful player, captain, finals coach and much-loved media performer.’’
Matthew Richardson, the former Richmond champion who played under Frawley during his reign as Tigers coach, said Frawley had an infectious warmth.
“More than anything for me, ‘Spud’ was a charismatic character who you wanted to be around,” Richardson said.
“He made you feel good, made you laugh, made you smile, which made it an enjoyable environment in his first few years at Richmond.
“I haven’t enjoyed a season more than 2001.’’
Friend and long-time Triple M colleague Brian Taylor said Frawley’s family meant everything to him.
“He loved his family and was an absolute gentleman. He also had a wide circle of mates.”
St Kilda president Andrew Bassat said the club was heartbroken.
“We are incredibly saddened by Danny’s death,” he said.
“Our thoughts are with Anita, and daughters Chelsea, Keeley and Danielle, and we will do whatever we can to support them in the days, weeks and months ahead.’’
His sacking as Richmond coach after five years at the end of 2004, and the stress he and his family suffered at the time, have been well documented.
Often the joker on Fox Footy’s Bounce program, and for many years on Triple M, Frawley said he played hard and partied hard, often with great mate Tony Lockett.
His five-year tenure as senior Richmond coach saw the Tigers surge to a 2001 preliminary final before he misjudged the quality of the club’s list and they battled in subsequent years.
Frawley spoke on the Herald Sun’s Sacked podcast only last month about how his issues with mental health finally revealed themselves during his time as the AFL Coaches Association boss.
He ended up having what he describes as a mental breakdown, covering a game at the MCG but having forgotten how to get home and having to ring wife Anita.
“I would be the first to admit that I had taken my eyes off the ball … I was struggling with depression at that stage and I had no idea I was,” Frawley said. “That was a by-product of being on this treadmill of life and not smelling the roses, trying to please everyone other than myself, that’s what it boiled down to. It made me really reflect and I thought, ‘I am really battling here’.”
Frawley was a popular member of Bounce for the past 13 years and 350 episodes.
He headlined the Golden Fist segment on the show and his challenges with co-host and long-time friend Jason Dunstall in Yesterday’s Heroes.
If you or someone you know needs help, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.