VFL Senior coach Dale Tapping unfortunately passed away on February 4, 2025, at the age of 59, after a battle with myeloma, a type of blood cancer, leaving behind his wife and children.
Dale is survived by his wife, Kellie, and their two children, Summer and Mason.
Highlights
- Dale Tapping had battled with myeloma for over a year since 2023. Tragically, he lost his cancer battle and passed away in 2025.
- Tapping left behind his loving family, including his wife, Kellie, and his two children, Summer and Mason.
- The coach publicly announced his diagnosis in June 2023, after which his wife, Kellie, managed to support him and handle their children at the same time.
Dale was a highly respected coach in Australian football. Tapping began his coaching journey at junior and lower levels before moving to the VFL, where he had a long and successful career.
He coached for Collingwood and then spent five seasons with the Brisbane Lions, playing a key role in the team’s development.
Tapping was an assistant coach at Essendon and was set to lead the team as head coach for the 2025 season.
Unfortunately, his passing has deeply saddened the football community and left his family in profound mourning.
President of the Essendon Football Club, Dave Barham, has released a public statement mourning the loss of Dale. He said:
On behalf of everyone at the Essendon Football Club, we are deeply saddened by his loss. Our club’s thoughts are with his wife Kellie, children Summer and Mason, and the extended Tapping family at this most challenging of times.
Dave Burham
The Essendon Football Club is in mourning after the passing of VFL Senior Coach Dale Tapping on Tuesday morning.
— Essendon FC (@essendonfc) February 3, 2025
A universally loved football person, Tapping bravely fought Myeloma, a form of blood cancer, for over two years.
Rest in peace, Tapps ❤️
Dale Tapping Was Diagnosed With Myeloma in March 2023, And He Displayed Courage, Fighting Against Cancer Until The End
Dale Tapping and his wife, Kellie, kept their personal lives out of the public eye as they valued their privacy.
The coach was first diagnosed with myeloma in March 2023. He publicly announced his diagnosis in June 2023 during a press conference at the club. He said:
I was sore for about three months since the end of the 2022 season, and it felt like a rib cartilage which I suffered during my playing days. The pain wasn’t going away and the simple question from the club doctor asking me about how I was going led to a diagnosis within 36 hours.
Dale Tapping
Former midfield Coach, Dale Tapping has been diagnosed with a type of blood cancer.
— Brisbane Lions (@brisbanelions) March 9, 2023
Footy is more than a game and the Club is right behind you mate❤️ pic.twitter.com/5LtYk00T6G
Despite his diagnosis, Dale continued to work as an assistant coach while undergoing his weekly treatments.
He adjusted his diet and exercise routine but remained committed to his role.
Dale expressed how difficult it was to discuss his diagnosis with his children, Summer and Mason, but praised them for their strength and support.
Throughout his battle, Dale received immense support from his family, friends, players, and the wider AFL community.
However, his wife, Kellie, was his biggest supporter during his battle with cancer, managing the household and taking care of the kids while being there for her husband.
Although their marriage was never highly publicized, they were known to share a deep and enduring bond.
Dale often expressed deep gratitude to his wife, Kellie, for her support and strength during challenging times, including his battle with cancer.
Despite feeling shattered during her husband’s cancer battle, Kellie showed remarkable strength, encouraging her husband to continue fighting.
Kellie Tapping Is A Successful Professional In Addition To Being A Devoted Wife And Mother
Kellie Tapping was a devoted wife to her husband and a loving mother to her children. In addition to being a devoted wife and mother, she is also a successful professional in her own right.
According to her LinkedIn profile, she worked as a law clerk and accounts administrator at Cornwall Stodart in Melbourne until 2016.
She then worked part-time as an education assistant at Camp Hill State Infants & Primary School and Sacred Heart Newport.
She also has a certificate in administration, office administration, and accounts from the TAFE Melbourne.
Kellie and Dale truly embodied the essence of teamwork, consistently balancing their work and personal lives.
Additional Information
- Dale Tapping earned the title of VFL Coach of the Year in 2016 after guiding the Magpies to a preliminary final.
- Tapping spent five seasons with the Brisbane Lions from 2017 to 2021, working under Chris Fagan.
- Dale also had a playing career, where he played for the Prahran Football Club in the Victorian Football Association (VFA), playing 105 senior games.
