Footy great dead after collapsing while walking his dog

Former Fitzroy champion and renowned AFL recruiter Matthew Rendell has died in hospital after suffering a heart attack on Sunday. He was 64.

Rendell collapsed while walking his dog on Sunday, and had been on life support since arriving at the Victorian Heart Hospital in Clayton via ambulance.

An exceptional footballer, Rendell first debut as a teenager for West Torrens in the SANFL in 1977 before playing 164 games in the VFL/AFL with Fitzroy and a season with the Brisbane Bears.

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At Fitzroy, he received two best and fairest honours and was a two-time All-Australian. He also served as the club's captain from 1985-1987.

Rendell then transitioned into club administration and recruiting, working as an assistant coach at St Kilda and an admired recruiter at Adelaide and Collingwood.

More recently, Rendell had forged a career in the media with The Age and SEN.

The AFL released a statement on behalf of Rendell's wife Leonie on Wednesday afternoon.

"It is with great sadness that I am releasing this statement in regards to the condition of Matthew Rendell," the statement read.

"Matthew passed away this afternoon, after suffering a cardiac arrest Sunday morning. He did not regain consciousness.

"We greatly appreciate the efforts of the first responders and the staff at the Victorian Heart Hospital.

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"The Rendell family would like to express gratitude towards everyone who has been supportive at this time."

AFL CEO-elect Andrew Dillon led the tributes for Rendell from the football community.

"Matt Rendell was a top-flight footballer from the moment of his debut for the Eagles, regular state representative for SA and imposing ruckman with Fitzroy and the Bears. As a dual All Australian and dual best and fairest winner, he led with distinction and forged friendships across the game with his gregarious nature, both as a player and then later in his career working in the game," he said in a statement.

"He will be greatly missed by so many across the industry and we offer our sincere condolences to Leonie, Daniel and James, and his many friends and colleagues around the game."

Rendell's brother Tim told The Age that Matthew had been found by a passer-by following a cardiac arrest.

"Someone noticed him and called an ambulance, but no one knows how long he was lying there," he said on Tuesday morning.

He also described his brother as a "pretty fit" person who remained active and walked regularly.

Rendell is survived by brothers Tim and Stephen, sisters Deb, Melinda and Vanessa, wife Leonie and sons Daniel and James.

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