Danny Frawley, the former St Kilda captain and beloved AFL commentator, has died in a car crash in regional Victoria. The 56-year-old was killed when his ute hit a tree near Gordon, about 20km east of Ballarat, on Monday afternoon. Police are investigating the cause of the single-vehicle accident.
Frawley, nicknamed 'Spud' after growing up on a potato farm, played 240 games for St Kilda from 1984 to 1995 and was the club's longest-serving captain until surpassed by Nick Riewoldt. He was inducted into St Kilda's Hall of Fame in 2007. Following his playing career, he coached Richmond for five years and later served as chief executive of the AFL Coaches' Association.
His tenure as CEO coincided with the Essendon supplements scandal, which he said took a toll on his mental health. 'It did my head in eventually,' he told a podcast in August. Frawley also worked as a commentator for Triple M, Fox Sports, SEN and Nine Network, and as a part-time defensive coach for St Kilda.
AFL boss Gillon McLachlan called it a 'devastating day' for football, while St Kilda said it was 'heart-broken' by the loss of a 'club great'. Tributes also poured in from Crocmedia and Foxtel, with Fox Sports calling him 'a man of incredible passion and insight'. Frawley is survived by his wife Anita and daughters Chelsea, Danielle and Keeley.
