DEFENDER Colin Garland says Dean Bailey regularly kept in contact with his former players and offered words of encouragement when the chips were down.

Garland said Bailey had an enormous influence on players’ lives.

“I remember the day that Dean got sacked and he was cracking jokes with us and [he said] that if we ever needed someone, don’t feel scared to ring,” he told melbournefc.com.au.

“The feedback we got from Bernie Vince and Aidan Riley, who are at the club now [after playing at Adelaide], speak so highly of Dean.

“Wherever he went, he was really loved.”

Garland said Bailey would be sorely missed by all who knew him.  

“He was a great mentor for me. He came at the start of my second year and he helped shape me into who I am now.”

“He was a terrific guy and a terrific family man and he was a great example to young men such as myself about how to raise a family and treat people.

“We had some trying times when Dean was here, but we also had some good times as well.”

Garland said Bailey had a “very astute football brain” and a “dry sense of humour”. He also praised Bailey’s rapport with indigenous players, but his ability to build relationships with anyone.

“He was just himself – even though he was a head coach,” Garland said.

“He’d go up and talk to staff members that weren’t part of the footy department and I think his respect for people – no matter if they were the CEO or the bootstudder or if they were from Yuendumu or Central Victoria – it didn’t matter.

“Dean respected everyone on the same level and I think that’s what I garnered out of Dean early on – to have that respect for everyone and to treat people the way you want to be treated.”