The family of late AFL legend, Lou Richards, has been offered a state funeral in Victoria.
Victorian Premier, Daniel Andrews, offered the family a state funeral on behalf of the State government.
Much loved AFL ambassador and media personality, Richards died peacefully at the age of 94 yesterday afternoon at the Windsor nursing home where he spent his later years.
Andrews told the ABC that Richards was a “decent bloke [who] always gave generously”.
“I thought it was appropriate to offer to someone … who made a huge contribution to footy, and a huge contribution to the life of our state,” he said.
“Someone who was loved by all, I think, and you can’t say that about every Collingwood hero.
“I do hope they take me up on that offer and that’s a way that all Victorians can say thank you to Lou Richards for a life well lived, and a very generous one.”
Tributes have flooded social media and news sites since his passing.
Eddie McGuire told the Herald Sun:
“I don’t think there’s anybody who has done what Lou did as player, captain, premiership captain, 250 games, was the epitome of the cheekiness of the Collingwood rover and grew up in the shadow of Victoria Park’’.
Premier Andrews paid tribute with the tweet “What he lacked in height, he made up for in fight”.
What he lacked in height, he made up for in fight.
Farewell to a legend named Lou, 1923 – 2017.
A Victorian icon. https://t.co/Y291ghT9Nq
— Daniel Andrews (@DanielAndrewsMP) May 8, 2017
Channel 9 News presenter Tony Jones, who first met Richards in 1987 at Channel 9 as a fellow reporter, paid heartfelt tributes to a close friend and colleague.
In today’s 9News, he wrote:
“Few others have made an impact on the game, on and of the field, like Lou Richards.
His wit and irreverence pioneered the way Australian Rules Football is packaged today.
Lou never let us forget that it’s just a game.”
AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan told 9news “the football world was forever in Richards’ debt”.
Fans themselves have honoured the footy legend with floral tributes and a Magpies scarf adorned on the statue of Richards outside the Collingwood Football Club this morning.
Born and raised in Collingwood, Richards was surrounded by a passion for the game.
Joining the Magpies in 1941, Richards went on to become a star player for the club, playing 250 games and kicking 423 goals throughout a 14-year footy career.
Following the footsteps of his grandfather and uncle, he was captain of the club from 1952 to 1955. Richards made history when in 1953 he led the Magpies to a 17-year drought breaking premiership.
Other career highlights include being Collingwood’s leading goalkicker in 1944, 1948, 1950.
However, it was Richards’ post-footy media career that made him a household name. Appearing on numerous TV footy shows over a 50 year period, Richards’ passion for the game and larrikin-style humour made him a much-loved media personality, synonymous with the AFL.
He was a regular on World of Sport and League Teams, where his verbal banter with other footy legends earned him the label “Louie the Lip”.
He also worked as a journalist for the Sun newspaper and on radio.
In recent years, Richards made regular appearances on Channel 9’s The AFL Footy Show.
In 1996 he was inducted into the AFL Hall of Fame and the Collingwood Hall of Fame in 2004. Richards was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 2008.
His statue stands outside the club’s Olympic Park training base in Melbourne.
"He is one of the greatest entertainers the game has ever seen." – Garry Lyon and the #9FootyClassified team pay tribute to Lou Richards. pic.twitter.com/dpHVtuVLed
— Footy Classified (@FootyClassified) May 8, 2017
The @afl and @CollingwoodFC have lost a legend very sad 😭 #R.I.P.LouRichards pic.twitter.com/uUEEDfVr1d
— Dougie & Creeny (@creeny1) May 8, 2017
