damien christensen has died after a battle with a rare form of cancer, prompting tributes from the Geelong Football Club and the wider football community. The former Geelong player and Geelong Falcons premiership coach was remembered on Tuesday, 28 April 2026, as a respected figure whose influence stretched well beyond the field. He was 62.
Geelong mourns damien christensen
The Geelong Football Club said it was mourning the passing of former player Damian Christensen and extended condolences to his family. The club said Christensen, who died surrounded by his immediate family, had built a reputation as a player, coach, mentor and community contributor across football and policing.
Christensen played 17 games for Geelong after debuting against Hawthorn in 1983 and finishing his AFL career in Round 12 of the 1986 season. He first came through the North Shore Little League, was recruited from Lara, and later built a strong local record that included a league best-and-fairest with St Mary’s in the Northern Territory and two premierships there.
damien christensen’s football path
After his time at Geelong, Christensen returned to Lara as a playing coach and guided the club to consecutive GFL grand finals in 1992 and 1993. He later took over the Geelong Falcons ahead of the 2000 season and spent six seasons in charge, leading the side to a TAC Cup premiership while mentoring future AFL players including Gary Ablett Junior and Jimmy Bartel.
Christensen’s coaching journey also included two seasons at Box Hill Hawks in the VFL, before he returned to the GFL to coach Newtown and Chilwell in 2016, his final coaching role before joining Victoria Police. He was also recognised for years of work in the community, and the Geelong Football Club noted that he had been widely respected across the region.
Immediate reactions to damien christensen’s death
Lara paid tribute to Christensen, saying he had been “a valued part of our football community since 1979” and that his dedication and passion “have left a lasting impact that will not be forgotten. ” AFL Barwon said he would be remembered “as a valued contributor to the Geelong region as a coach, player and mentor who gave so much to football and the wider community. ”
Those tributes underscored the scale of his influence across local and talent football. Christensen’s family link to the sport also remained strong, with his brother Marty serving as secretary of Geelong’s Past Players and Officials Association and his nephew Allen having played 65 games for the Cats, including in the 2011 premiership team.
What comes next after damien christensen
Christensen’s death closes a career that moved from junior football to senior clubs, talent pathways and local coaching, all while keeping a strong link to community service. The Geelong Football Club said farewell with a message of sympathy to the Christensen family, as the tributes to damien christensen continue to reflect the reach of his life in football and beyond.
