It was a little over 12 months ago when I had the pleasure of sitting down with Dick Reynolds and looking back on his time at Windy Hill and his truly extraordinary career. At 85 years of age he was a far cry from the supremely fit rover who dominated Australian Rules Football for almost two decades. The legs that carried him so perfectly over the Windy Hill turf were stiff and the hands that were slick and sure were worn.

He eased himself into a chair to talk about the Bombers past and present. It was just prior to a Dick Reynolds Club function – a coterie group named in the honor of the Essendon champion. We talked about Coleman, we talked about Hutchison – we talked about the Essendon Football Club. You could see in his eyes that the memories were vivid even if the translation to the spoken word didn't come as easily as he would have liked. He was talking about one of his favorite subjects.

The Essendon Football Club has always regarded Dick Reynolds as royalty – King Richard no less. And Reynolds always felt the same about Essendon. ""I just love the club,"" is a line he repeated more than once during the course of the interview. And he loved the tradition that he played a big part in establishing. The sides of the mid-80s and 2000 brought him great pleasure.

But in the latter part of his life there is no doubt that the drafting of his grandson to the Bombers gave him the greatest joy. Joel Reynolds would wear the red and black Never more proud was a grandfather of his grandson. A picture was printed on the back page of the Herald-Sun the day after Joel was confirmed a Bomber. Reynolds' pearly whites said it all.

In recent times Reynolds health deteriorated and time was clearly catching up with him at last Friday's Champions of Essendon Dinner. Reynolds was named the number one player in the 130-year history of this club. It was a huge honor and it wasn't lost on Reynolds who unashamedly shed a tear as he received a standing ovation from the 1400 who attended.

Reynolds sat in a chair centre stage – it might as well have been a throne. Nobody knew this would be his last public appearance but everyone knew there wouldn't be many more – it was deep into time-on. Last Friday night was both the acknowledgment of a supreme talent and a goodbye to a man who helped define this football club. It was fitting farewell.