Former Australian Football Player Phoenix Spicer Dies at 23: ‘We Are Devastated’

NEED TO KNOW

• Phoenix Spicer, a 23-year-old former Australian Football League (AFL) player, died on Friday, Jan. 2

• Spicer, who was originally from Numbulwar, played for the North Melbourne Football Club from 2020 to 2023

• A loved one described the late athlete as “a beautiful, loyal and strong Nunggubuyu man”

Australian Football League alum Phoenix Spicer has died. He was 23.

Spicer died the evening of Friday, Jan. 2, according to a statement from Dharna Nicholson-Bux, the sister of his girlfriend, Ky-ya Nicholson Ward.

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She wrote in a Facebook post on Saturday, Jan. 3, “We are devastated to share that last night we tragically lost our brother Phoenix Spicer. A beautiful, loyal and strong Nunggubuyu man.”

She added, “Phoenix will forever be our beloved brother, uncle, son, a partner to Ky-ya and a second dad to Jordy. Our hearts are broken with your sudden loss, you are watching over us in the Dreaming now my brother we will miss you!”

His cause of death has not been revealed.

Spicer, who played for the North Melbourne Football Club, was drafted in 2020 and played his first game in 2021. His last game with the team was in 2023, per the club’s site, NMFC.com.

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The athlete was originally from Numbulwar, a remote community in northern Australia, and was a proud member of the Nunggubuyu, one of the country’s Indigenous peoples, per NMFC.

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"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 Dr Sonja Hood AM said in a statement, per NMFC.

"On behalf of the club, I would like pass on my condolences to Phoenix’s family and friends at this extremely sad time,” she added.

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The North Melbourne Football Club paid tribute to the Spicer on Facebook.

“North Melbourne is deeply saddened by the sudden passing of former player Phoenix Spicer,” they wrote, adding, “We extend our condolences to Phoenix’s family and friends at this extremely sad time.”

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