Former North Melbourne forward Phoenix Spicer has died at the age of 23.<\/p>\n
Spicer died on Friday, with his family and North Melbourne confirming the news.<\/p>\n
Drafted with pick number 42 by the Kangaroos in the 2020 national draft, Spicer played 12 AFL matches before being delisted at the end of 2023.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Spicer spent the past two seasons at the Western Bulldogs’ VFL affiliate Footscray, playing 18 matches across that stretch.<\/p>\n
He was named as an emergency in the club’s VFL grand final victory in September.<\/p>\n
Just months ago, it was announced Spicer had signed for Hoppers Crossing in the Western Region Football League for the 2026 season.<\/p>\n
Hoppers Crossing is coached by Spicer’s former Kangaroos teammate Jared Polec.<\/p>\n
‘Beautiful, loyal and strong’<\/p>\n
Dharna Nicholson-Bux, the sister of Spicer’s partner Ky-ya Nicholson Ward, announced the news on social media, describing Spicer as “a beautiful, loyal and strong Nunggubuyu man”.<\/p>\n
“On behalf of my sister Ky-ya and our family, we are devastated to share that last night we tragically lost our brother Phoenix Spicer,” she wrote.<\/p>\n
Spicer was originally from Numbulwar, a remote community in east Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory.<\/p>\n
He played a role in helping artist Emma Bamblett design North Melbourne’s 2023 Sir Doug Nicholls Round guernsey, which featured each of the team’s First Nations players’ totems.<\/p>\n
Spicer was represented by his totem, the barramundi fish.<\/p>\n
“Phoenix was only at the club for a short time but he was a popular and well-liked member of the playing group,” North Melbourne president Sonja Hood said in a statement.<\/p>\n
“On behalf of the club, I would like to pass on my condolences to Phoenix’s family and friends at this extremely sad time.”<\/p>\n
The Bulldogs also paid respect to Spicer.<\/p>\n
“The club extends its deepest condolences to Spicer’s friends, family and loved ones at this difficult time and ask that their privacy be respected,” a club statement read.<\/p>\n
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