Declaring "I've had a wonderful life", Robert Walls has gone out as he lived - fearlessly and on his terms.

The AFL great, who won multiple premierships as a player and coach at Carlton, has died aged 74.

His family have confirmed media reports Walls used Victoria's assisted dying laws to end his life.

The Australian Football Hall Of Fame member had been diagnosed with cancer two years ago and died on Thursday morning.

"Robert did it his way and chose to end a fight that had seen him spend more than 250 nights in hospital during the past two years," the AFL said in a statement.

"His son David, speaking on behalf of sister Rebecca and brother Daniel, confirmed the Carlton, Fitzroy and Brisbane great and grandfather to seven had passed away peacefully in his unit overlooking the MCG.

"Having spent the last couple of weeks tidying up his affairs and catching up with family and close friends, he chose that over more and more hospital visits for treatment."

The AFL said a memorial service for Walls would be held at the MCG.

Carlton's tribute said Walls faced the end of his life "with extraordinary courage and a remarkable perspective".

"He took time to reflect on a life well-lived and was able to share his farewells with the many players, officials and media representatives whom he had met along the way,'' the club said.

"As he said: 'I've had a wonderful life'."

Walls played in Carlton's 1968, '70 and '72 premiership teams, while the club legend coached the Blues to the 1987 flag.

A tough centre half-forward, Walls played 259 games for Carlton and Fitzroy from 1967-80.

He immediately went into coaching, first at Fitzroy and then the Blues, Brisbane Bears and Richmond.

Stephen Kernahan is another Carlton great who starred as a player under Walls.

He said the man nicknamed "Wallsy" drove the fellow key forward to get the best out of himself.

"I'd do anything for him. He was a hard man, but I loved that hardness in him,'' Kernahan said.

"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."

The Blues said a few weeks ago Walls had bequeathed his four premiership medals and the Jock McHale medal he was awarded retrospectively in 2001 as a premiership coach to the Blues.

They are on display at the club.

AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon lauded Walls as a straight talker who was beloved by teammates and players he coached, highlighting how Walls did the "hard yards" in Brisbane when others did not want to risk their reputations there.

Lions chief executive Greg Swann said in a statement "his fingerprints were all across" their 2001-03 premiership three-peat.

In his debut season at Brisbane, a teenaged Michael Voss would sit next to Walls on the long flights home after another loss for the "Bad News Bears".

Voss broke the ice with the "genuine hard arse" by asking the former school teacher for help with his maths homework.

"As hard as it was for that two and a half hours to sit beside him, it was also a great opportunity to be able to know him, the man, not just the coach," Voss said.

"He's been an incredible mentor."

A famously combative personality, Walls became a respected AFL commentator after his coaching career ended in 1997.

"There were few during Robert's extensive time in the game who didn't benefit from his passion, hard work and knowledge," Players' Association chief executive Paul Marsh said.

"He had a huge impact on players during his coaching career, and his work as a media analyst brought great entertainment and insight to the public."

As recently as 2022, he was on the Essendon coaching sub-committee that recommended the appointment of Brad Scott.

Walls's wife Erin died of cancer in 2006, soon after his Hall Of Fame induction.

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