KEN HERBERT, a confidant and right-hand man to premiership coach David Parkin, has passed away aged 86.

A former Collingwood player - he made 20 appearances for the Magpies between 1942-45 - Herbert was a key figure when the Hawks captured the 1976 and 1978 premierships.

He is also credited as the man who first spotted the talents of Hawthorn superstar Leigh Matthews.

Herbert was chairman of the match committee and was fiercely loyal to Parkin, who coached the 1978 premiership team, and Don Scott, who captained the 1976 and 1978 sides.

Herbert famously walked out on Hawthorn’s annual general meeting in 1980, refusing to accept his life membership of the club. He was reportedly upset over the Hawks’ treatment of Parkin, who had resigned as coach, and Scott, who stood down as captain.

"We (Parkin and Scott) were like his adopted sons," Parkin said on Monday. "Nobody in my football life supported me better than Ken."

Herbert found time in his busy working life - he established one of the first supermarkets in Melbourne - to run school football clinics and during one of those sessions, he discovered Matthews at Bonbeach High School.

"Hawthorn can thank Ken for finding the club’s greatest player," Parkin said.

When Parkin was appointed coach of Carlton in 1981, Herbert remained close and while not in an official position, he regularly wrote to Parkin or called him offering advice.

After Parkin and the Blues parted ways at the end of 1985, the pair reunited at Fitzroy in 1986 and Herbert again assumed a role as chairman of selectors.

They guided to the Lions to the 1986 preliminary final, in what turned out to be Fitzroy’s last finals appearance.

"He just loved his footy. He was still writing to me when I came back as Carlton coach (in 1991)," Parkin said.

Herbert’s funeral will be held on Friday at Tobin Brothers in Doncaster at 2pm.