Over $100,000 was raised last week for the family of Essendon champion Merv Neagle.

The Merv Neagle Tribute Dinner was held at the Grand Hyatt on behalf of The Dick Reynolds Club, who rallied Neagle’s former teammates from both Essendon and Sydney in honour of the premiership player.

Merv tragically passed away last year and left behind wife Donna and his six children.

Essendon legend Tim Watson said the evening was a wonderful celebration of Merv’s life.

“It was just a fantastic night,” Watson said.

“The club raised over $100,000 for Donna and the kids and we had assistance from the South Melbourne/Sydney Swans people who were also there in great numbers.

“Bernard Toohey, alongside Barry Mitchell, Rod Carter and Anthony Daniher represented Sydney and then from Essendon it was Simon (Madden), Terry (Daniher) and Vander (Paul Vander Haar) who were all instrumental in putting the night together.”

Watson said the night was a special occasion, with the wider football community coming together to honour an Essendon great.

“It was the football community coming together to raise money for a family, and it was just a great night to be a part of,” Watson said.

“Donna made just the most fantastic speech from the heart... It was so moving and really just capped the night off.

“For everybody that sat in the room, they would have had the most overwhelming sense of goodness about participating in the night and being a part of it and raising money for the family.”