‘Loved by so many people’: Cats stalwart dies suddenly at training

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Geelong have been rocked by the sudden death of legendary club volunteer Vic Fuller at training on Monday morning.

Fuller, 79, collapsed on the field after suffering a stroke during training and could not be resuscitated. Training was called off early with players then sent home.

Cats chief executive Brian Cook said on Monday night that it had been a tough day for the club given Fuller’s status at Kardinia Park and the circumstances of his death.

The late Vic Fuller.Credit:Geelong Cats

“He collapsed right out front [of] the race. He had medical attention within 30 seconds. A defibrillator on him within a minute,” Cook said.

“It’s been a really challenging day for a lot of people, especially the senior players and the football staff who’ve worked with him for a long, long time, because Vic’s been around for 50 years.

“There’s been three grief counsellors engaging with our people.”

Cook paid tribute to a much-loved figure, saying the Cats would look to pay tribute to Fuller in the coming weeks.

Cats chief executive Brian Cook has paid tribute to long-time club volunteer Vic Fuller.Credit:Getty Images

“He’s just been a solid rock for us for so many years. He’s played all sorts of roles for us, he looked after Little League at one stage, he helped in recruiting. He’s been the VFL manager for a long time, he was the doorman for the AFL and the VFL. It goes on and on. He’s been loved by so many people for a long time.

“He loved to banter with everyone. He was even bantering this morning with a few of the lads. He had an opinion on most things, and he expressed it in a pretty humorous way most of the time, made people laugh.”

Cook described Fuller as the perfect doorman given he knew everyone connected to the club and therefore could discern who to let in.

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