Tragically, the South Bendigo Football Netball Club great never got to hear those words, but for his family and football club it brings great pride.

The Bendigo Football Netball League announced on Wednesday an appeal by SBFNC to have Cowling instated as a joint winner of the 1979 Michelsen Medal had been successful.

A three-time best and fairest winner at the Bloods, Cowling passed away suddenly on October 29 at the age of 61.

The midfielder tied with Peter Tyack and Eric Pascoe on 14 votes in the 1979 Michelsen Medal, but he lost under the old countback system because Tyack and Pascoe polled more three-vote games.

The countback rule was quashed by the VFL a year later, but nothing was said or done about Cowling's situation until SBFNC president Alan Ellis raised it last month.

The BFNL took little time to re-write the record books and, rightfully, named Cowling alongside Pascoe and Tyack as the winners of the 1979 Michelsen Medal.

"Gary was proud of his own children and grandkids, he always talked about them, this is really important for them to have something to talk about Gary,'' Gary's brother, Shane Cowling, said.

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"He played for South Bendigo and the Michelsen is a layer on top of that and it's something they'll have to talk about forever.

"Gary was a fairly reserved man and he didn't really like talking publically (about the Michelsen Medal).

"It was never something that was really talked about in our family. It's great for our family that he's been given this honour, particularly for his kids and grandkids."

The Michelsen Medal, on top of three club best and fairest awards, puts Cowling in the top echelon of Bendigo footballers.

"He's one of only five players at South Bendigo to have won the Michelsen and a best fairest,'' Shane Cowling said.

"He loved South Bendigo. I'm sure he got offers to play elsewhere, but he loved South Bendigo.

"A knee injury cut his career short...I'm sure he loved all his time at the club."

Ellis praised the BFNL for its decision.

"It's a wrong put right. As a club we're very happy with the outcome,'' Ellis said.

"He was a champion of our club and he was also a champion of the league and this is a fitting acknowledgement.

"Hopefully, this provides some comfort for his family after his untimely passing.

"He was such a modest man that his kids didn't know too much about his footy career, so this is a good thing for them.

"They're very proud of him and this is another reason to be proud."

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