The sudden death of AFL legend Sam Newman’s wife Amanda Brown, who died in the couple’s Melbourne home, has left many in shock, including Eddie McGuire.
The Herald Sun revealed the Geelong legend and former Footy Show host found his wife lying on the floor of their apartment in Docklands on Saturday night.
According to the paper, an Ambulance Victoria spokesperson said emergency services responded to calls of a cardiac arrest at approximately 7.40pm, but were unable to revive Ms Brown.
“I’m just devastated, I can’t say anything else,” Newman told the Herald Sun.
Victoria Police confirmed the death was not being treated as suspicious.
In a statement to news.com.au, a police spokesperson said, “Police will prepare a report for the Coroner following the death of a 50-year-old woman in Docklands on Saturday.
“The matter is not being treated as suspicious.”
The 75-year-old football legend is a member of the Geelong Hall of Fame and has had an extensive career in media as a broadcast commentator and one of the faces of the AFL Footy Show from 1994 until 2018.
Though Newman and Ms Brown married in November, they had been together for 20 years.
Australians have reacted to Ms Brown’s passing with shock and support for Newman.
Newman’s former colleague Eddie McGuire told Fox Footy on Sunday that Newman had found his wife after he came home from drinks with friends.
Her death also comes as Geelong mourns Frank Costa, 83. The former club president died in his sleep on Sunday morning after a long battle with illness.
“It’s been a heartbreaking day, particularly for the Geelong Football Club, but for the entire football community as a whole,” McGuire said.
“(Newman) came home from going out with a couple of friends yesterday and found his wonderful wife Amanda dead on the floor of his apartment. Sam, we know that you know we’re thinking of you, buddy.
“I spoke to him last night and (he’s) clearly devastated by the whole situation.”
Don Scott, AFL great and co-host of the podcast You Cannot Be Serious told the Herald Sun: “They’ve been together for 19 years and he depended on her a fair bit.
“He had a lot of feeling for her. What do you say? All you can do is be there.”
Veteran reporter Mike Sheahan said he was “really sad” for Newman.
“He was happy and that’s not always something you’d associate with Sam,” Sheahan said.
“It’s just terrible to find her gone at 50. Sometimes it’s hard to comprehend that stuff.”
The couple were married inside their luxury Docklands apartment last year with close friends and family attending.
It was the fourth time Newman had tied the knot and the ceremony took place just after Brown’s 50th birthday.
Though Newman often faced backlash for comments on social media or his podcast, the couple were private and Brown stayed out of the public spotlight.
Newman has three sons – Max, Jack, and Jordan.
This article originally appeared on Over60.