AFL player Michael Hibberd has posted a loving tribute to his older brother Geoffrey, who went missing during a boating trip on Westernport Bay on Sunday.
The Melbourne Demons player said he was "heartbroken and devastated".
The search for 33-year-old Geoffrey Hibberd and his friend Jason De Silva, 20, was scaled back on Wednesday.
The pair were last seen at the Flinders boat ramp on Sunday, and their aluminium boat was found washed up on Pyramid Rock on the south coast of Phillip Island on Monday morning.
In a post on Instagram, Hibberd said his older brother was his "hero" and vowed to always be there to care for his brother's daughter.
"To say I'm heartbroken and devastated is the worlds biggest understatement," he wrote.
"You're one of the most unique, kind and caring people I've ever met and I'm so lucky I had the gift of you as a Big Brother through my whole life.
"You were my first point of call growing up when I needed someone, you would drop anything you were doing at anytime, just to help me.
"I idolised you! You were my hero. You still are!!"
Hibberd described his brother as an amazing father to daughter, Indie.
"She was your world and she adored you! We all did! Please know brother I will always be there and take care of Indie! My pledge to you!" he wrote.
"I love you more than you'll ever know brother.
"To anyone that has read this. Hug your loved ones. Tell them you love them. Family is everything."
