West Coast return to training without young star Rhett Bazzo, who is grieving the loss of mother Kylie after a boat accident

In many ways, it felt like a normal training session.

In reality, it was anything but.

West Coast is in mourning and its young star Rhett Bazzo is in agony.

What should have been an enjoyable night out with friends turned to tragedy when Kylie Bazzo, Rhett’s mother, and Debbie Burdon lost their lives in a boat crash on Saturday.

Two families are grieving. One has been here before.

In 2015, Rhett and sister Kameron lost their father Steve to cancer.

Rhett, then aged 11, carried the initials ‘SB’ on a piece of tape into every big game he played on his way to the AFL. It served as a reminder of the advice Steve, himself a fine footballer for Swan Districts, would have given him.

After getting drafted by West Coast with pick No. 37 in 2021, Bazzo said, “I know my Dad would be looking down on me proud.”

He continued: “[Football] has always been in our family. My Mum was heavily involved in a few footy clubs as well, so it would be a bit weird not having footy in our lives. My family have dedicated a lot for me and given up a lot of things to make sure I can try and live out my childhood dream.”

That drive was apparent when the 195 centimetre defender made his debut last year against eventual premiers Geelong. Unflappable in the face of one of football’s biggest tasks, Bazzo held power forward Jeremy Cameron to one goal and kept his spot in the side.

If or when Bazzo returns to the field, he’ll be carrying a burden no 19-year-old should ever have to.

Bazzo, understandably, didn’t train on Monday.

Neither did housemate and close friend Campbell Chesser.

Their teammates, meanwhile, spent an hour and 15 minutes on the track. The sombre feeling among the assembled supporters was impossible to miss, many of whom passed on well wishes to the players that stopped by post-session.

Over at Fremantle, Sam Switkowski opened his Monday morning press conference with a message to the Bazzo family.

“On behalf of the Freo footy club, we want to send our deepest sympathies to Rhett Bazzo and his family after the terrible tragedy,” Switkowski said. “When something happens to someone in the football community, rivalries and everything [are put] aside.

“Our deepest condolences.”

The football community has a special way of uniting behind its own and West Coast will do everything possible to support Rhett and his family. And if Monday’s training session is any guide, supporters will embrace the emerging star who has had to endure far too much far too soon when he is ready to return to footy.

But now is a time to pause and grieve.

Now is the time to remember Kylie Bazzo.