The coach of the Adelaide Crows has been killed and his 26-year-old son arrested and charged with murder, sending shockwaves through the Australian Rules football community.
South Australian police said they were called to Phil Walsh's Adelaide home about 4.30am this morning and found the 55-year-old coach and his wife had suffered knife wounds after an argument with their son.
"As a result of that, both Mr. Walsh and his wife received the wounds and the wounds ultimately caused Mr. Walsh's death," a police spokesman told reporters in Adelaide.
Adelaide Crows coach Phil Walsh. Photo: AFL
Walsh's wife had been taken to hospital after suffering a non-life threatening wound, while his son had been taken to a medical centre for psychiatric assessment.
Walsh took over as coach of the Crows, two-times champions of the Australian Football League, during the off-season.
News of Walsh's death, midway through the AFL's season, left the South Australia state capital stunned.
"Tragic day for Crows supporters and sport in general ... A tragedy that people in Adelaide woke up to this morning," former Adelaide Crows chairman Bill Sanders told state radio ABC.
Walsh's son will reportedly have a bedside hearing in hospital later today.
