Former North powerbroker Ron Joseph has remembered Laurie Dwyer as a man who was loved by all.

“Sitting back over the last 24 hours, and you think of the enormous input he had into that first premiership, with Ron Barassi, and Barassi was at his absolute peak at that time,” Joseph told SEN radio following Dwyer's death on Monday morning.

After a long and illustrious playing career, Dwyer remained at North in a variety of roles and when the Roos won their first premiership, the man known as ‘Twinkle Toes’ was the club runner under Ron Barassi.

“So, the messages were pretty strong and bold ... Laurie got the Barassi message across in a way where they knew what Barassi was saying but Laurie was putting it in a different way.”

Joseph believed that Dwyer’s reward for his playing career came after he retired, with involvement in the 1975 and 1977 premierships.

“Blokes like Laurie, they didn’t play in golden eras at North Melbourne but they achieved a lot individually and they were recognised by the competition.

“They didn’t win premierships but the great thing when Barassi arrived, and later John Kennedy, they were embraced by those icons and Laurie had enormously successful times with North.

“In many respects, it was their rewards for the loyalty for the lifetime of football they’d given the club. These blokes were just committed to the club in a really special way.”

Dwyer was highly respected by all who came in contact with him according to Joseph.

“He loved footy, and he was a man of enormous conviction and also enormous humour. His humour made him a friend of anyone.

“He was a gentle, humble guy. I don’t think there’s anyone in footy in all of his time that could ever dislike a Laurie Dwyer.”

“He also had an enormous determination that most people never saw. I was saying to Allen Aylett, people say the same thing about Keith Greig, a nice, quiet bloke.

“Underneath it all, they had a fierce determination to win and succeed and I suppose that’s why blokes like Laurie Dwyer have had successful lives.”