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Port Adelaide football club has confirmed that player John McCarthy has died in Las Vegas.
The 22-year-old player was found unresponsive on the driveway of the Flamingo Hotel about 5.40am local time.
He was taken to the University Medical Center of Las Vegas where he was pronounced dead.
Port Adelaide CEO Keith Thomas said McCarthy was holidaying with 10 teammates who left Australia last Saturday.
"My understanding is that he fell from a building," Thomas said.
McCarthy was not with his teammates when he died but Thomas understood witnesses were "on the ground at the incident".
The football club was informed of McCarthy's death at 9.30am AEST and much of the day was spent trying to make sure the young player's parents, family and girlfriend had been informed and supported, Thomas said.
"We had trouble contacting his brother who is overseas as well," he said.
Thomas said the club also held a meeting to inform the players of what happened. "There were tears, he was a popular young player," he said.
"John was very popular loyal player who embraced the club as we embraced him and our thoughts and wished are with his friends and family right now.
Port Adelaide midfielder Kane Cornes this afternoon took to Twitter to voice his grief.
"Hug your kids and tell your family you love them. We've just lost the nicest guy and best teammate you could ever ask for. Too sad," he wrote.
Thomas said Port Adelaide's general manager had been sent to the US and the players who were holidaying with McCarthy were preparing to come home. The Clark County coroner's office is now investigating.
Pretty bad news considering the terrible year they've had on the field. I wonder what happened. Anybody ever stayed at the Flamingo Hotel before?
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