THE State Government has offered a state funeral to the family of Collingwood legend Lou Richards.

Richards passed away peacefully yesterday at a Melbourne nursing home. He was 94.

“Lou Richards was a legend of our game and an iconic figure for Victoria,” a government statement says.

“The Government has offered a state funeral to Lou’s family.

“The family is considering this offer — it will be their decision.”

Daughter Nicole Morrison told 3AW she would speak with other family members before making a decision.

“I think that would be really proud to think that someone ... who grew up in Collingwood and lived most of his life in Abbotsford would be offered at state funeral,” she said.

“I think that would be a great honour and I’m really thankful for the Premier for offering that to us. We are very, very proud of that.”

The AFL last night hailed Richards for his towering contribution to the game.

The AFL said Richards sat in the company of Ted Whitten and Ron Barassi as one of the largest figures — on and off the field — in the history of Australian football.

An emotional Magpies president Eddie McGuire said “no man has done more for our game than Lou Richards”.

“He was a quintessential Collingwood man who spoke to the entire football world,” McGuire said.

AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan said the game owed a huge debt to Richards.

He played 250 games for Collingwood, including captaining the 1953 premiership side, and was an inaugural member of the Australian Football Hall of Fame.

But it was in the media that Richards found even greater fame.

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The Herald Sun publishes a special tribute to Lou today. Get your copy at newsstands or subscribe

media_camera Today’s Herald Sun.

LOU THE LEGEND: SPECIAL COVERAGE

LOU RICHARDS: THE LITTLE BLOKE WHO ROSE ABOVE THE PACK

DEVOTED FATHER: DAD WOULD HAVE GIVEN IT ALL UP FOR FAMILY

LOU WAS KING OF VICTORIA AND LOVED BY ALL: MIKE SHEAHAN

THE SHOWMAN: LOU’S DARES DRAW A CULT FOLLOWING

THE HEART AND SOUL OF COLLINGWOOD

LOUIE THE LIP BLAZED A TRAIL

LOU ‘WILL ALWAYS BE A COLLINGWOOD PERSON’: EDDIE MCGUIRE

TIMELINE: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF LOU RICHARDS

Lou Richards: A remarkable life media_camera Lou Richards. 1 of 43 media_camera John Wren Exhibition at Champions Australian Racing Museum and Hall of Fame, Federation Square. Collingwood legend Lou Richards beside a framed photo of the Collingwood 1896 Premiership Team. 2 of 43 media_camera Edna and Lou Richards at Lou’s 80th birthday at Crown. 3 of 43 media_camera 1951. Lou Richards, Collingwood captain takes a photo of (left back) Stan Vandersluys, Albert Pannam, Horrie Jenkins (front) Alby Pannam, Charlie Pannam, Charles Pannam and Ron Richards. 4 of 43 nav_small_close Want to see more?( 39 more photos in collection )Continue to full gallery nav_small_left nav_small_right

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He worked on TV, radio and in print to help revolutionise coverage of the VFL and AFL with the Sun, forerunner to the Herald Sun, and television for Channels 7 and 9.

Richards’ Sun columns introduced colour and delight with his nack for bestowing new names for stars of the day.

North Melbourne ruckman Mick Nolan became “The Galloping Gasometer”, Carlton back-flank luminary Bruce Doull, “The Flying Doormat”.

Magpie tank Rene Kink was “The Incredible Hulk”, Peter Daicos was “The Macedonian Marvel”, then there was Geelong spearhead Larry “the Lamb” Donahue and Fitzroy’s Bernie “Superboot” Quinlan, while Paul Van der Haar was “The Flying Dutchman” of Windy Hill.

Most notably of all, Richards gave Leigh Matthews the “Lethal” moniker by which he is known to this day, and Kevin Bartlett was “Hungry”.

“The AFL, our players and our clubs all benefit from the massive interest in our game around the country that is driven by media companies, and their desire to report every happening to our fans, along with trying to entertain them,” McLachlan said.

“Lou Richards was the original driving force of the media’s expanding interest in our game, particularly with the emergence of television from the late 1950s, and his time as host and match-caller for the Seven Network developed a style that has often been copied but never bettered.

“Everyone in our industry, who is fortunate to earn a living around the game we love, has the likes of Lou Richards to thank for his work ethic, his love of the game, his willingness to both poke fun at himself and others and his one-off originality.

“As a player, he captained his club to a premiership and was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame and the Collingwood Hall of Fame.”

People from the Premier to TV broadcasters have also shared tributes.

Daniel Andrews tweeted: “What he lacked in height, he made up for in fight.”

While Kevin Bartlett tweeted: “Sad to hear of the passing of Lou Richards Collingwood and media icon who entertained a generation of footy fans thanks for the memories.”

Collingwood tweeted: “Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with the Richards family. Lou, and his family, will forever be a part of the Collingwood story.”

media_camera Lou Richards on the Sunday Footy Show in 1996.

Channel 7 producer Gordon Bennett, who worked with Richards on League Teams and World of Sport, said: “It was Lou and Ron Casey that pushed Seven’s football to the forefront and made it so popular”.

“The fans all loved Lou. He was their hero. Even though he was a Collingwood player, people from all teams loved chatting to him.”

Channel 7 Melbourne managing director Lewis Martin said Richards was a “television pioneer”.

”His legacy can be seen today in sports entertainment television.”

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LIFE AND TIMES OF LOU RICHARDS

PIE MEMORIES: COLLINGWOOD GREATS ON CLUB’S FINEST MOMENTS

COLLINGWOOD 125th BIRTHDAY SPECIAL: BEST 25 PIES PLAYERS

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The Collingwood legend and TV personality paved the way for many others in the football world.

Lou Richards dies a footy legend at 94. The great entertainer paved the way for so many others. Was too poorly to attend 125th anniversary — Jon Ralph (@RalphyHeraldSun) May 8, 2017

Farewell Lou. A magnificent life well lived. Forget AFL Hall of Fame charter, always a legend in our eyes. Changed off-field game forever pic.twitter.com/r2GiObJZ9w — Glenn McFarlane (@MaccaHeraldSun) May 8, 2017

So much more than a Collingwood champion. A brilliant entertainer who re-defined the way we watch our game. Vale Lou. — Bill Shorten (@billshortenmp) May 8, 2017

The club is deeply saddened by the passing of the great Lou Richards - https://t.co/AIkLJMQbRP #sidebyside pic.twitter.com/7DJdeqWp33 — Collingwood FC (@CollingwoodFC) May 8, 2017

Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with the Richards family. Lou, and his family, will forever be a part of the Collingwood story. — Collingwood FC (@CollingwoodFC) May 8, 2017

RIP Lou Richards. A genuine icon of @CollingwoodFC & @AFL, media. Before The Game & all modern footy shows are indebted to him. — Peter Helliar (@pjhelliar) May 8, 2017

Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the late, great Lou Richards and the @CollingwoodFC — Port Adelaide FC (@PAFC) May 8, 2017

We're saddened to hear of the passing of legendary@CollingwoodFC figure and media personality Lou Richards – one of the game’s greats. — Melbourne FC (@melbournefc) May 8, 2017

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

Vale Lou Richards. Entertaining, witty, Pies Captain & proud Melburnian. Gave him Keys to the City in 2010. Will b remembered 4 generations. — Robert Doyle (@LordMayorMelb) May 8, 2017

Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Lou Richards and the @CollingwoodFC - a true legend of the game! — Essendon FC (@EssendonFC) May 8, 2017

Sad to hear of the passing of Lou Richards Collingwood and media icon who entertained a generation of footy fans thanks for the memories Kb — Kevin Bartlett (@KevinBartlett29) May 8, 2017

When it comes to making @AFL coverage fun, Lou Richards was the original and the best and he wouldn't mind me saying that. #RIPLou #legend — Dave Hughes (@DHughesy) May 8, 2017

Vale Lou Richards. A giant of the game, on and off the field. — Carlton FC (@CarltonFC) May 8, 2017

Vale to one of the game's great players and personalities, Lou Richards.



Condolences to Lou's family, friends and all at the @CollingwoodFC pic.twitter.com/iQ1ffRjApl — Richmond FC (@Richmond_FC) May 8, 2017

Very sad news - RIP Lou Richards, a great Australian, a legend. — Matthew Guy MP (@MatthewGuyMP) May 8, 2017

❤️ you Lou Richards "#RIP to a great bloke with a kind heart" — Wayne Ludbey (@WLudbey) May 8, 2017

We're saddened to hear of the passing of legendary@CollingwoodFC figure and media personality Lou Richards – one of the game’s greats. — Melbourne FC (@melbournefc) May 8, 2017