Joseph’s coffin draped in North Melbourne’s 1975 premiership flag

Former North Melbourne and Sydney official Ron Joseph, who died earlier this month aged 77 - has been farewelled by some of Australia’s sporting heroes.

Ron Joseph’s funeral was attended by a veritable who’s who of the football world. Picture: Tony Gough

Sydney coach John Longmire has revealed how he used one of legendary administrator Ron Joseph’s favourite speeches to console and inspire his Swans team in the aftermath of last year’s grand final humiliation at the hands of Geelong.

The Swans coach was among a number of speakers including Malcolm Blight at Joseph’s funeral at Trinity Grammar on Friday, paying tribute to the former North Melbourne and Sydney official, who passed away earlier this month, aged 77.

His funeral was attended by a veritable who’s who of football, including Ron Barassi, the man he helped coax to North Melbourne half a century ago, Glenn Archer, Anthony Stevens, Brent Harvey.

Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles, who was a long-time family friend, also attended.

Malcolm Blight and Deputy PM Richard Marles at the funeral. Picture: Tony Gough

Longmire said Joseph had a lifelong obsession with U.S. presidents and frequently used Theodore Roosevelt’s famous ‘It is not the critic who counts’ speech.

Subconsciously, Longmire read the speech to his players as they dealt with the grand final thrashing last season, only later realising it was another case of Joseph guiding his football pathway.

“Ron loved the U.S. presidents, and (Roosevelt’s speech) was something I said to the players after last year’s grand final,” Longmire said at the crowded funeral.

“Just somewhere in the psyche, Ron has had a big influence on a lot of people.”

Longmire recounted how Joseph and Greg Miller sealed the deal with the then teenager and his father to play for North Melbourne in the local Corowa Chinese restaurant, a long way from Joseph’s favourite Flower Drum.

Ron Joseph’s funeral service was held at Trinity Grammar. Picture: Tony Gough

Football greats including Glenn Archer attended to pay their respects. Picture: Tony Gough

Brent Harvey was also in attendance. Picture: Tony Gough

“I hope there is no one here from the AFL (in regard) to the salary cap that year,” he said.

“I am not sure whether the Commodore (North Melbourne gave Longmire) got put in there or not. It wasn’t my business.

“Even though I was 15, I did drive it home, but that’s another story.”

He added: “Ron was one who always told you what you needed to hear, not what you wanted to hear.”

Joseph’s coffin was draped in North Melbourne’s 1975 premiership flag on a stage where the Kangaroos’ four premiership cups featured.

As one of the speakers on Friday said, Joseph’s “fingerprints” were all over those premiership cups as he had played such a significant role in turning the Kangaroos into a force in the 1970s.