Thousands have gathered in Melbourne’s Federation Square to honour Jim Stynes and remember his inspiring achievements both on and off the field.

The AFL great and charity worker is being farewelled at a state funeral at St Paul’s Cathedral on Tuesday, while across the road, people from all walks of life have gathered to watch the service on the big screen.

While the crowd was filled with Melbourne jerseys and scarves, supporters from various AFL sides gathered to remember Stynes’ work off the field, said 27-year-old Shaun Dux.

“There’s a lot of Melbourne supporters but also I have seen Collingwood, Hawthorn and a lot of other supporters,” Mr Dux said.

“It’s not because of his footy spirit, it’s what he did for the Reach Foundation.”

Stynes, 45, died last week after a three-year battle with cancer.

Essendon supporter Steven Ellard said he had had the honour of meeting Stynes and came to pay his respects and give a great bloke a good send off.

“When you lose a bloke like that it’s a bit devastating,” he said.

“The bloke was just a robot, he never broke down.

“He was a great footballer and he did win a Brownlow but I think off the field, his work with the Reach program, he was a bigger name than what he was on the field.”

Mark Ellard, 26, said it had been a privilege to be a Melbourne fan while his football hero played at the club.

Susan McMinn, 47, said she came to pay her respects to the inspirational man she admired.

“He was such a natural person and he touched so many people in so many different ways both through his very public cancer treatment and also through the Reach Foundation and through fighting to save the Melbourne Football Club,” she said.

“There’s a lot of people who just want to show him we all thought he was an amazing man.”