AFL great Robert Walls’ final act on earth has been revealed.

Walls decided to end his own life on Thursday after his battle with a rare cancer, acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

He could not face another round of brutal chemotherapy and decided enough was enough.

Walls was in his home in East Melbourne, fittingly, near the MCG.

His children Rebecca, Daniel and David were there, as was his friend and former partner Julie.

David has now revealed what it was like the morning of the death, and it was not what one would expect.

He said he father was in very good spirits, and it was not like a movie scene when someone is on death row.

“He skipped down the hallway like he was running through the banner,” David told News Corp.

“His dog Lily was craning her neck trying to get to him and see what was happening but Lily will go with Julie.

“(Dad) said, ‘I have had a great life and I have tried to fight it, but it’s enough’.”

Walls’ wife Erin died in 2006. She lost a battle with lung cancer and that weighed on in his mind heavily before his death.

“Seeing how mum (Erin) went through what she did, he did an unbelievable job looking after her but he lived on his own and he knew what was coming and he thought he would go a little earlier rather than reaching the point of no return,” David said.

“He had to jump through a lot of hoops. He had to see three doctors, he had to be terminal and he had to have a certain type of cancer but he was ready.

“He just kept saying how grateful he was for the life he had and the way he had travelled, the places he had been. He had a great career in football and grandkids that loved him.”

David revealed the three words that accurately summed up his father’s outlook ahead of his death.

“He said, ‘I can’t complain’.”

At peace with himself, and after informing many friends of his decision during the week, he then took the drink that would end his life.

Walls was a three-time premiership player at the Blues having made his debut at just 16 in 1967 against Hawthorn at Princes Park, kicking a goal with his first kick in the VFL.

He would be part of the 1968, 1970 and 1972 triumphs, kicking six goals in the 72 VFL grand final and was awarded man of the match honours.

Walls would play 218 games for Carlton, finishing with 367 goals, before a move to Fitzroy with a knee injury, ending his playing days, taking his VFL tally to 444 goals from 259 games.

He would transition to coaching the following year, leading Fitzroy for five seasons before a coaching swap with David Parkin saw him return to the Blues.

It was during his time at the Lions he implemented ‘The Huddle’, which revolutionised how teams move the ball from kick-outs by creating space to run the ball out of defence.

He found immediate success leading the team to the 1986 grand final before winning the premiership the following year, etching him into Blues folklore, having won as a player, before captaining the club and becoming a premiership coach.

Captain of the 1987 team Stephen Kernahan paid tribute to his “great mentor.”

“When I came to Carlton, ‘Wallsy’ drove me to get the best out of myself, and I’d do anything for him,” Kernahan said.

“He was a hard man – but I loved that hardness in him. He was also ahead of his time, a real visionary.

“Wallsy was a great mentor and friend to me, and I’m shattered I’m not going to see him again.”

Walls was sacked midway through the 1989 season after a loss to the lowly Brisbane Bears whom he would ironically coach from 1991 to 1995, playing finals in three of his five seasons before two seasons at Richmond.

Following the end of his footy career Walls moved into the commentator’s chair, joining Seven to provide special comments before replacing Malcolm Blight on Talking Footy.

He also became a regular columnist for The Age.

Despite his somewhat prickly nature both as a coach and in the media, Walls admitted he had softened with age and was candid when speaking to the Herald Sun over his cancer diagnosis last year.

“If I was to die tomorrow, I’d say how fortunate I’ve been,” he said.

“No ‘woe is me’ at all. My sister’s had cancer, her husband had cancer, their little boy when he was four had cancer and lost his arm. He’s now 35 or 36 and a strapping big guy. How tough’s that? My wife passed away at 55. Shit, I’m in my 70s, I’ve got nothing to complain about, nothing at all.’’

Richmond great Matthew Richardson played under Walls and worked with him in the media.

“Very sad to hear of the passing of Wallsy. I had Robert as a coach for two years and found him to be a very hard but fair coach,” he said.

“After I retired I got to work with him at 3AW. He was a great media performer and his typical hardline approach was still on offer.

“He showed a great sense of humour and was great company off-air. What a life and career in football he had. He will be missed.”

Ahead of his passing, Walls bequeathed his four premiership medals and his retrospective Jock McHale Medal to the Carlton Football Club which are now on display in the front-of-house Museum at Ikon Park.

- With The Nightly