Tragedy as AFL legend and Fitzroy great Matt Rendell dies aged 64 after suffering a heart attack and never regaining consciousness
- Fitzroy legend had attack on Sunday morning
- Family said he never regained consciousness
- 64-year-old played 164 games for Fitzroy over a decade
AFL great and Fitzroy legend Matt Rendell has died aged 64 after suffering a heart attack, his family confirmed in a statement on Wednesday.
‘Matthew passed away this afternoon after suffering a cardiac arrest Sunday morning,’ read the statement issued on behalf of Rendell’s wife Leonie.
‘He did not regain consciousness.
‘We greatly appreciate the efforts of the first responders and the staff at the Victorian Heart Hospital.
‘The Rendell family would like to express gratitude towards everyone who has been supportive at this time.’
Matt Rendell (pictured) suffered a heart attack while walking his dog in Melbourne on Sunday and never regained consciousness, his family confirmed in a statement
Rendell made his debut in the SANFL, before joining Fitzroy in 1981 and going on to play 164 games for the club over the next decade.
A two-time Fitzroy club champion, the star ruckman captained the club for three years and was named in the all-Australian team in 1983 and 1987.
Having initially opted to retire, Rendell joined the Brisbane Bears after his spell at Fitzroy ended, playing one season in Queensland before hanging up his boots.
He remained in footy after his retirement, joining St Kilda as assistant coach and then taking up the role of recruiting manager at the Crows in 2007.
During his stint in Adelaide, he helped build the Crows side that finished second in 2012 and lost by five points to Hawthorn in the preliminary final.
He subsequently joined Collingwood in a similar role for a brief spell.
The AFL great played 164 games for Fitzroy in a decade with the club between 1981 and 1991
Rendell had become a regular presence on Trade Radio and SEN, offering his views on AFL lists.
On Tuesday, Rendell’s brother Tim described the moment the footy great was found after suffering the cardiac arrest while walking his dog in Melbourne.
‘Someone noticed him and called an ambulance, but no one knows how long he was lying there,’ Tim told The Age.
‘He’s at the hospital, he’s unconscious. He hasn’t woken up since the [heart] attack. That’s about all we know until we get there.’
Tim added that his brother was ‘pretty fit’ and had remained active since.
The Lions great has two sons, who were both overseas as of Tuesday.
***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk