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By Paul Carter
SYDNEY, Aug 11 AAP - Footballers cried as Sydney took an important step toward moving on today after being floored by the sudden death of its head trainer, Wally Jackson.
"Life goes on ...", one of Jackson's favourite sayings around the AFL club, was printed on the front of the order of service at his funeral at the request of his two surviving sons.
Jackson, 56, who started with Sydney in 1991, had a heart attack on the players' bench midway through the last quarter of Sydney's six-point loss to the Kangaroos at the SCG on Saturday.
"Dad passed away doing something he loved and meant so much to him," said Chris Jackson in his eulogy.
Ruckman Jason Ball, a pallbearer six weeks ago at the funeral of Jackson's wife Clair who had battled cancer, today helped carry his close friend's casket.
The No. 27 guernsey Ball wore on Saturday was signed by the Swans family and sat on an arrangement of red and white roses, the club's colours, while Sydney stickers were attached to the coffin's sides.
"He was one of the Bloods to the end," said Ball, who paid tribute to Jackson's unwavering loyalty and role as a father figure to the Swans' young men, many of whom are a long way from home in Sydney.
"We went to footy war with him every weekend ... he worked his heart out for this club and in the end he lay exhausted on the battle field," Ball said.
"His dedication, hard work and legend sense of humour is something that cannot be replaced."
Sydney's entire staff, from all levels of the organisation attended the ceremony, while Paul Kelly, Tony Lockett, Daryn Creswell and Andrew Dunkley were among many former players to pay their respects, as well as former coach Rodney Eade.
Trainers from Richmond, Hawthorn, Port Adelaide, Adelaide and Collingwood mixed with Jackson's family and workmates from 33 years at a power company to swell numbers at the ceremony in Sydney to almost 500.
The AFL was represented by top administrator Tony Peek.
All trainers in the AFL will this weekend wear a red armband, Sydney's colour, as a mark of respect for Jackson, a Swans spokesman said.
SYDNEY, Aug 11 AAP - Footballers cried as Sydney took an important step toward moving on today after being floored by the sudden death of its head trainer, Wally Jackson.
"Life goes on ...", one of Jackson's favourite sayings around the AFL club, was printed on the front of the order of service at his funeral at the request of his two surviving sons.
Jackson, 56, who started with Sydney in 1991, had a heart attack on the players' bench midway through the last quarter of Sydney's six-point loss to the Kangaroos at the SCG on Saturday.
"Dad passed away doing something he loved and meant so much to him," said Chris Jackson in his eulogy.
Ruckman Jason Ball, a pallbearer six weeks ago at the funeral of Jackson's wife Clair who had battled cancer, today helped carry his close friend's casket.
The No. 27 guernsey Ball wore on Saturday was signed by the Swans family and sat on an arrangement of red and white roses, the club's colours, while Sydney stickers were attached to the coffin's sides.
"He was one of the Bloods to the end," said Ball, who paid tribute to Jackson's unwavering loyalty and role as a father figure to the Swans' young men, many of whom are a long way from home in Sydney.
"We went to footy war with him every weekend ... he worked his heart out for this club and in the end he lay exhausted on the battle field," Ball said.
"His dedication, hard work and legend sense of humour is something that cannot be replaced."
Sydney's entire staff, from all levels of the organisation attended the ceremony, while Paul Kelly, Tony Lockett, Daryn Creswell and Andrew Dunkley were among many former players to pay their respects, as well as former coach Rodney Eade.
Trainers from Richmond, Hawthorn, Port Adelaide, Adelaide and Collingwood mixed with Jackson's family and workmates from 33 years at a power company to swell numbers at the ceremony in Sydney to almost 500.
The AFL was represented by top administrator Tony Peek.
All trainers in the AFL will this weekend wear a red armband, Sydney's colour, as a mark of respect for Jackson, a Swans spokesman said.
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