Essendon Football Club joins the wider football community in farewelling its former coach and League great Bill Stephen, who passed away on Monday at the age of 92.

A former Fitzroy captain, Stephen coached nine seasons at Fitzroy between 1955 and 1970 before a stint at North Melbourne as assistant coach during its maiden VFL premiership in 1975.

He was appointed Essendon's senior coach in 1976 - the year that saw Graham Moss become the Bombers' third Brownlow medallist - and held the position for two seasons and 44 games.

Stephen was a renowned developer of young players and it was during his time at Windy Hill that the club recruited Tim Watson, Paul Vander Haar, Merv Neagle, Neil Clarke and Shane Heard. All would go on to have fine careers and win premiership medals.

Premiership coach Kevin Sheedy and 300-gamer Garry Foulds said Stephen was an unsung hero of the Bombers' success in the '80s.

"Bill helped Essendon win the 1984 flag more than people realise. The first ‘Baby Bombers’ was his, don’t forget that - players like Tim Watson and Merv Neagle," Sheedy said.

"He laid a few foundations of that successful 1980s side, in part through the way he nurtured a lot of the players by giving them opportunities," Foulds said.

The club extends its condolences to Stephen's family.