Bob Davis' football feats earned him the undying gratitude of the city of Geelong - but it was his pioneering role as a television performer that a much broader audience will remember.

Davis' 189-game playing career from 1948-58 - the last four years as captain - included the Cats' 1951-52 premierships. His coaching stints in 1956 and 1960-65 yielded Geelong another flag in 1963.

Those achievements were enough to earn Davis a spot in attack in Geelong's Team of the Century and a place in the AFL's Hall of Fame.

They also earnt him the honour of having a gate at the Cats' home ground, Kardinia Park, named after him.

And the privilege of handing over the premiership cup for the club's most recent flag, in 2009, meaning he has been firmly in the spotlight in four of the Cats' five most recent premierships.

But, given Davis last played 53 years ago, and the bulk of his playing career was before the advent of television in Australia, his on-field exploits are, for most, a dim memory.

The lasting image of his playing days in most minds would come from still photos, of Davis with the ball tucked under one arm, speeding down the wing.

His pace had him dubbed the Geelong Flyer, after a train that ran from Geelong to Melbourne.

But, if football fans nominated the memory that springs most readily to mind, chances are most would attempt to imitate his instantly-recognisable voice uttering the catch phrase "fair dinkum unbelievable".

It is a tribute to his lasting impact as a media performer that for most Victorians and many beyond the state's borders, hearing that phrase would instantly conjure up an image of Davis.

Davis's move into top-level football had not been completely smooth.

He was rejected several times by South Melbourne, the club he supported as a child, before turning to the Cats.

But his move into television was always destined for success, given his affinity as a performer.

By his own admission, he preferred the grandstand wing at Kardinia Park because it enabled him to play up to the crowd.

He was still playing well when he retired in 1958, being named All-Australian captain that year, but gave up the game to work with the Seven Network.

His television career began as a match-day commentator.

He went on to star in World of Sport, League Teams and Sportsworld and was still appearing on Seven football shows until 2001, before continuing his TV career well into the 2000s on FoxSports' Grumpy Old Men.

His teaming with fellow VFL greats Lou Richards and the late Jack Dyer on World of Sport and League Teams paved the way for the plethora of current AFL-themed TV shows.

The trio, who became known as the Three Wise Monkeys, became television stars because of their knowledge and passion, but moreso due to their warmth and wit.

Their unscripted banter, occasional mangling of the language and unwillingness to take themselves too seriously made for a loved and enduring format.

While Davis could never be called self-effacing, his lack of egotism was summed up in his famous description of himself as "the last of the non-thinking coaches".

And despite losing his long-held status as the Cats' most recent premiership coach, he was as delighted as any Geelong fan when the club broke a 44-year flag drought in 2007.

Davis died of an illness on Monday night, aged 82.

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