Cole, according to his former Seagull teammate Jim Murray, was a reliable shut-down defender named in Port Fairy's best on the day the club defeated Colac by two points to claim its first and only Hampden league flag.

The 79-year-old said Cole was an astute and beguiling player, once compared by the Sporting Globe football book to Carlton's dual best-and-fairest winner Bruce Comben, who could take his opponent out of the game.

"Kevin was a very safe back pocket," Murray said.

"But earlier on he was a really versatile player who also went through the centre."

Murray, now one of just four 1958 premiership players still alive, said it was fitting the Seagulls paid a small tribute to Cole against the Blues on Saturday, as there was no other team he liked to beat more.

"He always loved playing Warrnambool because we were arch-rivals for a long time," Murray said.

Off the field, Cole was a popular larrikin with a good sense of humour who used to pull beers at Hearn's Hotel in Port Fairy before he moved to Geelong and worked at the Sir Charles Hotham Hotel.

Murray said when he and other teammates caught up with Cole at the Geelong pub a few weeks ago, people came from "left, right and centre just to say hello".

"It was a great get-together," he said.

"We're all getting on now, but that's part of life and you've just to face it."

Cole's grandson Matt Nicholls wrote to The Standard this week to share some of his memories of Cole.

He said outside of football his grandfather was an active golfer who once shot a hole in one on the eighth at East Geelong in 1987.

"Port Fairy has lost a giant," Nicholls said. "He will be missed by many."

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