Adelaide Crows coach Phil Walsh is dead, his wife is in hospital and his son has been charged with murder after a domestic disupte at their South Australian home.
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Walsh, 55, was found with multiple stab wounds at his family's Somerton Park home at 2am on Friday.
He died at the scene, despite the efforts of ambulance paramedics. His wife Meredith suffered a leg injury.
Walsh's 26-year-old son Cy has been charged with murder and is undergoing a psychiatric assessment in hospital, police said. He is expected to face a bedside hearing on Friday afternoon.
Superintendent Des Bray told reporters at the scene on Friday that a knife was used in the attack.
"At this stage, we won't say what sort of knife, or how the knife came to be there," he said.
Walsh's son allegedly left the scene and was found soon after by police in the suburb of Glenelg East, Superintendent Bray said.
"He's now at the Flinders Medical Centre with police," he said.
Superintendent Bray said Walsh's son lived at the Bungey Avenue house with his parents.
Ambulance paramedics contacted police after receiving an emergency call about a stabbing, he said.
"Somebody from the house called triple-0 and asked for an ambulance and the ambulance contacted police," Superintendent Bray said.
"Shortly after, police and ambulance arrived at about the same time. Two patrols attended with ambulance crews.
"Ambulance crews immediately rendered first aid and tried to resuscitate Mr Walsh, but unfortunately a ... doctor declared that he had died shortly afterwards."
Walsh's wife was treated by paramedics at the scene, before being taken to the Flinders Medical Centre with non life-threatening injuries.
It is understood Walsh's daughter is overseas on holidays.
Superintendent Bray said the incident was tragic, regardless of Walsh's high profile.
"It's not even just that he's a high profile person, it's just absolutely terrible when families are torn apart in such tragic circumstances," he said.
"For any family, regardless of who it is, [this is] one of the worst things you could imagine that could happen to you. The pain and suffering of the family is no different."
Shocked Adelaide Crows players were seen arriving at Adelaide Oval on Friday morning.
The Adelaide Football Club released a short statement soon after, saying they were devastated by Walsh's death.
"The Adelaide Football Club is devastated at the sudden passing of senior coach Phil Walsh in the early hours of this morning," the club said.
"We ask if you could please respect the privacy of his family, as well as our players, coaches and staff, at this extremely difficult time."
The club said it would hold a media conference on Friday afternoon.
The AFL is yet to comment.
The Crows are scheduled to host Geelong at Adelaide Oval on Sunday. That match is now in doubt.
There has been an outpouring of grief and shock on social media, as the community and football world reach out to the club and Walsh's family.
AFL great Wayne Carey tweeted: "Thoughts are with everyone that Phil Walsh has touched on this very sad day #shattered."
Former Richmond player Nathan Brown said the death was shocking and would impact many AFL clubs.
"I'm shocked," Brown told the Nine Network.
"At the moment, [I'm] beside myself that a lot of players are going to wake up today and be on their way to training and find out this news.
"He played for Collingwood, he played for Brisbane. He's been at West Coast, he's been at half the AFL clubs. This is going to touch so many people."
In February, in an interview with Fairfax Media's chief football writer Caroline Wilson, Walsh spoke about the impact of grief in the aftermath of a training accident which left player Brent Reilly with a fractured skull.
"Part of the old Phil Walsh might have screamed at Brent Reilly to get up," said the new Adelaide coach at the time. "Sitting in that hospital, I really wondered if the worst happened whether I would be able to make those same physical demands on the team.
"In the end, after he came through the operation, I told the guys: 'Let's just get through the week. I won't coach and I won't make demands on you and if you don't feel you can train, then don't.
"What I've learnt from working with large groups is that we all deal with grief differently. We needed to find out who was grieving and get them the relief they needed."
A statement from South Australian police, released at 9.55am said: "Just after 2am, police and ambulance crews were called to a house in Bungey Avenue after a domestic dispute.
"Ambulance crews treated a seriously injured 55-year-old, but sadly he died at the scene. The victim's son, was arrested earlier this morning and has since been charged with murder.
"The accused, who remains under police guard, is currently undergoing a mental health assessment at the Flinders Medical Centre, which can take up to 24 hours. He is expected to have a bedside hearing later today.
"The deceased's wife sustained non life-threatening injuries during the incident and is currently receiving treatment in hospital.
"Sturt CIB and Major Crime Detectives remain at the scene and investigations continue."
- with Jon Pierik
