FIVE-TIME Hawthorn premiership player Robert DiPierdomenico has spoken of the profound effect former coach Allan Jeans had on his life.

DiPierdomenico joined premiership teammate Leigh Matthews on afl.com.au's Talking Footy on Friday just days after the pair attended the memorial service held for Jeans in Melbourne.

"It's been a [sad but] great week for the footy club. I think we've been able to send off a great man," DiPierdomenico said.

"He came into my life at the right time.

"He always had a word for me. He was just awesome."

DiPierdomenico has many fond memories of his former coach and father figure, and he recounted Jeans' words to him shortly after his 1986 Brownlow Medal win.

"I was a bit embarrassed when I went to [the club] the next day because there were so many great players at Hawthorn who had never won one and there I was," he said.

"The boys were hanging it on me, but Jeansy said to me, 'Now you've got the responsibility of being a Brownlow medallist - really understand what that means'."

Other subjects broached during the expansive interview include his memories of the famous 1989 Grand Final, in which he suffered a punctured lung, along with his other grand final recollections and his involvement with the Peace team in the AFL International Cup.