The teenage son of Hawthorn assistant coach Brett Ratten has been killed in high-speed rollover, with police fearing a deadly mix of speed, alcohol and drugs could be factors in the crash.
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Grieving friends of Cooper Ratten, 16, gathered at the Yarra Glen football oval on Sunday, where he had been playing in a game with his mates only one day earlier, and shared memories of the beloved player.
"This world is so cruel," his girlfriend wrote in a Facebook tribute to Cooper. "I love you forever."
The teenager was with two friends in a car, believed to be stolen, which was travelling more than 100 kmh through heavy fog at 3am when it veered off a bend north-east of Melbourne and rolled multiple times, police said.
Cooper, who was sitting in the back seat, was likely not wearing a seatbelt and was thrown more than 40m from the crash site on Glenview Road in Yarra Glen, police said.
He died on the way to hospital.
His two friends, both 17, from Healesville and Yarra Glen, were taken to separate hospitals for minor injuries. Both were too young to hold a driver's licence and are being held in police custody.
Victoria Police Detective Sergeant David Yeoman said speed was an obvious factor in the crash, which could have easily killed all three teenagers.
"It was an absolute miracle that two people got out of that car alive," he said at the scene.
"Driving is not a game. You don't go for a joyride under these circumstances. It has tragic consequences with very severe custodial sentences attached to them."
He said the two injured teenagers will be interviewed at a later date for offences ranging from culpable driving to theft of a motor vehicle and drug or alcohol offences.
The fatal crash prompted the AFL community to offer its support to Ratten and his family.
"The thoughts and prayers of all connected with the club are with the Ratten family, friends and the Yarra Glen football community at this extremely difficult time," the Carlton Football Club, where Ratten was coach for five years, said in a written statement.
Hawthorn said it was deeply saddened to hear about the crash: "The club asks that media respect Brett's and the family's privacy at this tragic time."
Yarra Glen Football Club president Vincent Erickson said Cooper and his two mates had been playing in a game on Saturday afternoon.
The club then held a function on Saturday night, he said, which wrapped up around midnight.
He stressed that courtesy buses were provided for all attendees.
"It's a tough day for the club," he told Fairfax Media.
"We've just got to get behind each other. Our thoughts are with the families who have been directly impacted by this tragedy."
He said counselling will be offered to club members and their families.
"The Yarra Glenn community is very tight knit and this will have a profound impact," he said.
Adam Easton, the boy's under-18 coach, joined dozens of others at the oval on Sunday upon hearing about the fatal crash.
"We're all grieving at the moment. Nothing else needs to be said," he said.
"We're a very tight-knit community and family - and a very strong footy club."
