The mark of respect in which Walls was held was evident in the eclectic mix of mourners, several of whom were former teammates he had captained or players he had coached who became respected coaches and administrators after they hung up the boots.

Old sparring partners Kevin Sheedy and Mick Malthouse sat among a congregation that also included Walls’ former charges Michael Voss, Ross Lyon and Brendon Gale from his days as coach at Brisbane, Fitzroy and Richmond.

Also present were former teammate and later AFL chairman Mike Fitzpatrick, AFL boss Andrew Dillon and old colleagues from his third life in football as a respected, hard-nosed member of the fourth estate.

Walls’ was a life lived in public, but it was the stories told by his sister Annette Coonan and children Rebecca, David and Daniel which showed his softer side.

Loading

Rebecca recalled how her father pledged to give her 50 cents for every goal she made as a goal shooter in netball so she could pay to have her ears pierced. Long before the goal was reached, Walls took her in, held her hand while the piercing was made, and let her keep her money.

His oldest son David, now the list boss at Fremantle and a former reserves player at Carlton, said he would not miss seeing his dad’s ear in a FaceTime conversation “but I will miss our chats talking about the game”.

David had the floor in stitches with a story of a blue his father had with him and his brother Daniel on the morning of the 1987 grand final. “He was heading to the game from Park Orchards and Dan and I would say, ‘We’re riding with you’,” David said.

“Rob was having none of it and wanted to drive to the game by himself. A big argument ensued, and the last thing he heard as he was heading down the driveway was Dan yelling, ‘You can stick it up your arse, I’m going for the Hawks’.”

Loading

Daniel – who was tasked with addressing the “final quarter” of his father’s life, the part after footy – recalled fondly the memories of “Pa” on their farm in Hepburn.

“Thinking back on it now, father and sons out working away in the paddock, grandkids helping Dad work on dance routines,” he said.

“We’d all enjoy a beer together with the sun setting over kangaroo-covered landscapes and then Pa would have to watch these dance routines, over and over and over again, and finally having to give expert commentary on something he knew nothing about.”

Walls’ sister Annette was fiercely protective of her brother, recalling the time she defended him against criticism from the crowd.

“There were a group of Carlton supporters who used to call Robert, ‘Autumn Leaves’,” she recalled. “I took exception to this, however, I soon learnt to be quiet. It wasn’t easy listening to criticism of my brother.”

Walls’ success came at Carlton but he had a soft spot for Fitzroy, where he spent eight seasons as a player then coach. He was at the helm during the club’s last sustained finals run in the early 1980s. His bond with the old “Roy boys” remained strong to the end.

Fitzroy great Scott Clayton, who played under Walls, remembered his old coach’s penchant for his players to be bold, assertive and forthright, and the relationships and friendships built on the foundation of trust.

Michael McLean, one of the favourite players of the 269 Walls coached at senior level, broke down remembering how Walls never addressed him by his nickname of “Magic” until the night Walls inducted McLean into Brisbane’s hall of fame in 2023. “I love you, I’ll miss you,” McLean said, barely choking back tears.

Essendon president David Barham became close friends with Walls through their time at Seven and then Ten. Walls had the rare distinction of making a mark in the game as a player, coach and in the media.

Loading

Walls hated Ten’s removal of the clock for the final five minutes of games, particularly in close finishes. His wife Erin shared that view, a point she made to Barham the night Walls was inducted into the AFL’s hall of fame.

“Erin was very sick at the time, suffering lung cancer, was wearing an oxygen mask helping her breathe,” Barham said. “I said, ‘Hello Erin, great to see you.’ She immediately took the mask off and said to me, ‘When are you getting rid of that five-minute warning Dave?’ and immediately put the mask back on.

“I got the feeling, that with the Walls family, it was one in, all in.”

Barham also recalled a hilarious 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.

“On air, he gave Meat Loaf 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 …’

“Meat Loaf’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 Meat Loaf’s half-time show was back on.

“Suffice to say, had it not been for Wallsy, we may not have the Meat Loaf memory, something we have all enjoyed talking about for more than a decade.”

Walls had the final word. MC Stephen Gough, a major off-field player at Carlton in the 1980s and 1990s, read a letter Walls had penned to be delivered at his memorial service.

In it, Walls paid tribute to the friends he made in football, and his family.

“The most fortunate thing in my life was meeting and marrying Erin,” Walls wrote.

“We raised three beautiful kids Rebecca, David and Daniel, who have become good, kind, respectful, decent people.

“Unfortunately, Erin didn’t get the chance to see our seven beautiful grandkids grow up … and I am so very proud of them.”

Keep up to date with the best AFL coverage in the country. Sign up for the Real Footy newsletter.