"I'm the luckiest person in the world... It is a great existence."
Those were the words of Drew Morphett, printed on cards and handed out to the hundreds of mourners who gathered to pay tribute to the much-loved broadcaster in Melbourne.
The memorial service at the MCG attracted some of the biggest names in Australia sport, from past AFL champions to Olympians, club presidents and media identities.
Former colleague Sandy Roberts hosted the event, while fellow broadcasters Greg Miles, Tim Lane and Mark Maclure shared colourful stories about their old friend.
Former colleague Bruce McAvaney worked with Morphett for more than a decade at Channel 7.
"He was in many ways larger than life, he had this incredible personality that could bring people together — life of the party," McAvaney said.
"We all got to know him, whether it be a Boxing Day Test, an AFL Grand Final, an Olympic Games.
"It is a great career, it really is, it's one of the really big careers in Australian broadcasting.
"Everybody who loves sport — and there's a lot of us in Australia who do — knew Drew Morphett and respected him and we're going to miss him."
Morphett, 69, died suddenly last Friday night after watching the football at home with his wife Karen.
Morphett's image was displayed on the MCG scoreboard in tribute to a career which began at the ABC 1966 and spanned more than 50 years.
'He called for Australia'
The former ABC trainee rose to prominence in the 1970s as host of the national replay program The Winners.
"Like everyone else I first got to know him when he did The Winners and he was this young guy that did this program that we were all absolutely enamoured with and then I got to work with him over the years, he had a beautiful voice, he had great timing, he could do anything," McAvaney said.
Morphett commentated AFL, cricket, Olympic Games and a host of other sports for the ABC before joining the Seven Network in 1988.
Maclure, a former Carlton captain, worked with Morphett when he returned to the ABC 13 years later.
The pair spent 375 games in the box together as part of ABC Grandstand's AFL coverage.
"I had a long time with him, he's a good fella," McLure said.
"I think he's done some super things for Australia — he never played for Australia, but what he did, he called for Australia.
"He was light, bright, happy, made you feel good. I wish he was still here."
