McCooke coached Murtoa in Wimmera Football League from 1964 to 1967.

He played 13 games for St Kilda across two stints at the club in 1955 and 1957-58.

Horsham's John McDonald played under McCooke and remembers him as a passionate coach and player.

"He was as tough and rough as anyone to come to the Wimmera," McDonald said.

"He made a lot of us younger blokes at Murtoa walk tall. He was a protector.

"He was a great orator and spoke with a lot of passion in his pre-match addresses."

Murtoa's Roger Webb also played under McCooke.

He said he was a versatile player, who played either in the ruck or up forward.

"He was a very tough player but a very talented one as well," Webb said.

"He was quite a good coach and speaker. I think he spoke at one of the 200 Club dinners.

"He was a great townsman, a nice bloke."

Sport and Recreation Minister Hugh Delahunty said his father Frank was president at Murtoa during McCooke's time as coach.

Delahunty said McCooke had left a lasting impression on him.

"I remember him vividly. He was a dynamic big man and a very vocal person," Delahunty said.

"I can still remember him saying 'get that red blood through your veins'."

McCooke's funeral is today at Noble Park.