Walsh's death a dreadful tragedy: PM

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has observed a moment's silence at an afternoon tea in Hamilton, the Victorian town where murdered AFL coach Phil Walsh grew up.

PM Tony Abbott has labelled the death of Adelaide AFL coach Phil Walsh a dreadful tragedy. (AAP)

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has labelled the death of Adelaide AFL coach Phil Walsh a "dreadful, dreadful tragedy".

Mr Abbott observed a moment of silence at an afternoon tea on Friday while in Hamilton, the small town in western Victoria where Walsh grew up.

"He was a very well-known and very well respected local from a very large and very well respected local family," he said.

"There is a pall over Hamilton, there is a pall over AFL more generally today and ... I certainly would want to extend my deepest condolences to his family, to his friends, to his colleagues."