Former Geelong dual-premiership captain Tom Harley has mourned the passing of Bob Davis, paying tribute to the icon's ability to transcend generations.

Harley was presented with the AFL premiership cup by Davis in 2009 and described his death as "devastating news".

"He was just an iconic Geelong person and had this innate ability to relate to all generations," Harley said.

"He was very contemporary, I fondly remember talking about current football issues with Bob, and for him to present us the trophy in 2009 was just a real highlight of my career.

"To hear Bob say it was for him too was a really touching moment."

Harley said the loss of Davis will be felt by many.

"There's a whole gamut of Geelong supporters who remember Bobby the player, then another group who remember Bobby the coach, and then as a media identity, through the work he did with World of Sport."

Harley will be commentating at Etihad Stadium on Friday night when Geelong and Carlton players observe a minute's silence to honour the AFL Hall of Famer.

The Cats will be keen to continue their undefeated start to the 2011 season after last week's dramatic victory over reigning premiers Collingwood.

Harley was impressed with what he saw in the three-point win.

"They out-Collingwooded Collingwood, they put the press on the Pies and put unbelievable pressure on them, they out-tackled them," he said.

"So for all the punters who think it's a one horse race, it's clearly not."

However Harley was not getting carried away with his old club's form, pointing to the fact the bookmakers are still backing the Magpies.

"I didn't check the premiership odds the day after, but I'd assume Collingwood are probably still the premiership favourites, and rightly so," he said.

"Having been in a team that has been up for a long time myself, you do go in peaks and troughs a bit, and Geelong got Collingwood at a good time, no doubt about that."

"But that's not taking anything away from the Cats, they played exceptional footy."

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