For Essendon premiership player Adam Ramanauskas, the late Dr Bruce Reid was more than a medical professional.

Among the tributes which have flowed for Reid, who passed away from mesothelioma at age 75 on Tuesday night, Ramanauskas reflected on a man who became a close confidant during a difficult time for the 134-game midfielder.

When Ramanauskas was diagnosed with two tumours in his upper body in 2003, the then-22-year-old formed a close relationship with Reid, who helped him face the daunting health battle. 

Ramanauskas told RSN’s Breakfast Club program that Reid was a key reason he was able to overcome his diagnosis and work his way through the challenging period. 

“He was the most important person in my life throughout that stage,” Ramanauskas said. 

“If I didn’t have ‘Doc’ Reid by my side, things could’ve been a lot different. When he was there with me through that period where there was so much uncertainty with what was going to happen with me, I just felt calm and assured.

 “He made me understand what was happening. I always felt like there was a plan in place. I always felt reassured we were on the right track and things were going to be OK.”

Common traits which have been said about Reid is the level of care and compassion he showed to anyone he met.

Ramanauskas re-affirmed that viewpoint, saying Reid was a one-of-a-kind person who could seamlessly turn from being a medical professional to a friend.

“He was much more than a doctor. He was a psychologist, a shoulder to cry on, a friend and a larrikin,” he said. 

“He knew when to be serious and when the moment needed to be light-hearted. He loved a joke and a good time, he came on all the footy trips with us.

“It’d be very difficult to find a person who had a bad word about Doc Reid. The football club was also his family and a lot of us saw him as a father figure. He’s going to be sorely missed.”

With the Essendon family mourning the loss of a club great, Ramanauskas’ final words on Reid are full of gratitude to what the Essendon Hall of Fame legend meant to him. 

“I can’t thank him enough,” he said.

“There are not enough words to describe what he meant to me then and what he meant to me throughout the years that I knew him. 

“To Judy and the family, I just send all my love to them.”