As the AFL community mourn the death of Dean Bailey, the Adelaide Crows have revealed he left a parting message: do what he can’t, and be successful.

Bailey, the Crows’ senior assistant coach, died at 2am on Tuesday from lung cancer.

As tributes pour in for the 47-year-old, Adelaide’s chief executive Steven Trigg says Bailey left the Crows a final message.

“For us as a club, his direct message is really clear: we have a responsibility to do what he can’t,” Trigg told reporters.

“To learn, to develop, and to leave no stone unturned to be as successful as we can be … that is our responsibility.”

Trigg said the Crows were devastated by the death of the former Melbourne head coach and Port Adelaide and Essendon assistant coach.

Bailey also played 53 AFL games for Essendon, played in SA’s state league for Glenelg, and coached Queensland state league club Mt Gravatt.

“We have lost someone who has had a profound impact on so many places and so many people – it just adds to the terrible sadness,” Trigg said.

Adelaide coach Brenton Sanderson said Bailey remained strong throughout his fight against cancer, which was diagnosed last November.

“His courage was incredible. He just kept fighting,” Sanderson told reporters.

“I feel really in peace now that he’s no longer in pain.”

AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou said the league had lost a wonderful servant.

“Dean was a man in the prime of life … his passing has shocked all in football, coming so soon after he was first diagnosed,” Demetriou said.

AFL Coaches Association chief executive Danny Frawley said Bailey’s impact went beyond the elite AFL level.

“Dean Bailey made an enormous contribution to football for almost 30 years across three states and with a broad range of clubs and organisations,” Frawley said in a statement.

Bailey joined the Crows in 2012, having been sacked as Melbourne’s head coach during the 2011 season.

He was suspended by the AFL for 16 games last season for his involvement in alleged tanking during his time as Melbourne coach.

“His love for the game of AFL was infectious on everyone who came in contact with him,” Melbourne’s football manager Josh Mahoney said in a statement.

“It took him across the country, chasing his dream of coaching and developing people and players.”