GEELONG yesterday lowered their premiership flags to half-mast, and will wear black armbands against Carlton on Friday night before discussing a more lasting tribute to Bob Davis, 82, the club's champion player, coach and motivator.

The players were told of Davis's death at a team meeting yesterday morning. Chief executive Brian Cook said the Cats planned to support Davis's family through the next few days before deciding how it could further honour his lengthy contribution to the club he joined as a 19-year-old.

Davis's name already adorns the main gates at Skilled Stadium, where he played many of his 189 games, later coaching the club for five years and to the 1963 premiership. He was on the podium again at the end of the 2009 grand final, handing the cup to a group he had grown very close to.

Upon retirement, Davis became one of the sport's most popular television figures on World of Sport and League Teams. ''He was a magic fellow and he had a connection with so many different people,'' Cook said.