• A man who chased his dreams

• Players share their grief over Walsh's death

• 'A crisis unprecedented': Crows come together



ADELAIDE Oval was silent and still in the moments leading up to 2.50pm, when the siren that was supposed to signal the start of Adelaide's game against Geelong sounded.

About 20,000 people lining the stadium's bottom tier delivered a standing ovation – a tribute to fallen Crows coach Phil Walsh.

A photo of Walsh looked down from the big screens as the crowd made their way out onto Adelaide Oval and lined its boundary.

Brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers and grandparents – entire families had come to kick the football around and honour Walsh's contribution to the game he loved so dearly.

The news that Walsh had been killed on Friday was met with disbelief by countless thousands around the country, but on Sunday that shock had been replaced by a contemplative respect.

Crows supporters joined Port Adelaide and Geelong fans.

There were Western Bulldogs jumpers, West Coast scarves and Fitzroy polo shirts; footballing tribes united to remember a man who impacted so many.

Cats supporter Matt Lane told AFL.com.au he came to "share the love".

"With football you'll come and there will be great banter, there will be one-liners thrown around, there will be a little bit of respect and disrespect shown, but today everyone's on the same page," he said.

"To have people come and pat you on the back regardless of whether they're wearing blue and white, blue and yellow, red, yellow and blue or teal, black and white is extremely humbling for everyone – for society."

Tributes in the way of flowers, hats, letters and candles occupied more and more room in Adelaide Oval's Southern Plaza as the crowd continued to roll through.

A Crows scarf was even left inside the coaching box in the very spot where Phil should have been plotting Geelong's downfall.

Young sisters Grace and Charlotte Stewart left a poster that bore a simple but poignant message: "Rest in peace Walshy".

Footy fans gather at Adelaide Oval to farewell Crows coach Phil Walsh. All pictures: Getty Images