Kyle Hartigan says losing this year’s Grand Final was nothing compared to losing his former coach, Phil Walsh.
“If AFL has taught me anything, it’s that there are more important things in life than football,” Kyle has written in an article for PlayersVoice.
“Phil Walsh was a great teacher and mentor. He was ruthless yet caring. It’s funny how those two go together, but that was Walshy. He’d tell you how it was, and I really enjoyed knowing where I stood with him.
“I’d had a lot of coaches who didn’t believe in me, but he saw something in me and really believed he would bring out the best in me. He told me that often.
“He was such an important person for me.”
“We only had a short time with him, but he had a massive impact. He was a special person.
“I was shattered when he was killed in 2015. It made me realise how short life really is…
“Losing a Grand Final, it doesn’t compare one little bit to seeing your coach lose his life, a wife lose her husband, children lose their father. I’ll always hold family and loved ones closer than footy. In the end, it’s just a game.”
