For one glorious season in 1961, Kevin Pay loomed large in front of goal for Collingwood - a lethal threat to opposing teams as he booted a Magpies-high 31 majors.
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The full-time siren sounded on his VFL career the following year (he played 19 games over three seasons for Collingwood).
Fifty-eight years later, after a life of high distinction, the full-time siren sounded on his life.
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AFL North West - whom he was so instrumental in driving in its earliest incarnation after relocating to Inverell with his wife, Nola, in 1967 - said he died peacefully this week surrounded by his family.
He was aged 80.
When the Saints play the Swans early next month, they will wear a special jersey honouring Pay.
Inverell-based Sonia Martin, the AFL North West president, said Pay was "a beautiful man with a really big heart, a really kind person".
"His passing just affects so many people, because he was such a community man," she said.
"He's one of those larger than life figures," she added. "He's was physically a big man with these great big, broad shoulders. An absolute gentleman."
Martin said Pay was key to AFL taking root in the region, and remained active in the sport into his latter years - co-coaching, for instance, the North West under-14 side.
He helped establish the Inverell Tigers in the late '80s, then transferred his boundless enthusiasm to helping the Saints enter the competition in 2004.
Junior sport, especially junior AFL, was one of Pay's great passions, Martin said.
Through his family company Blue Gem Contractors - which he founded upon moving to Inverell from Victoria - he was a great financial supporter of AFL, she said.
"Kevin was the kind of guy who would say, 'Whaddya need to make it happen?'" she continued. "And he would do that every year, providing sponsorships."
Pay was made a Saints life member, as well as a life member of the town's Harness Racing Club, Jockey Club and Show Society. He received an Inverell Sports Council service to sport award in 2018.
Fittingly, his children and grandchildren are also involved with the Saints.
"They're so active around the club - the whole family," Martin said.
Pay grew up on his family's dairy farm in Kerang, northern Victoria, and was tasked with raising pigs there, Martin said, adding that he put the countless hours spent doing that arduous work to good use: while hauling milk to the pigs he would kick a footy.
"That's how he got fit and strong and honed his skills," she said.
