WEDNESDAY could have been renamed Kevin Bartlett Day at the MCG, as a statue of the 403-game AFL legend was unveiled in the shadows of the famous stadium. 

With his family by his side and friends and colleagues watching on, the rain cleared as Bartlett removed the shiny red cover from the newly crafted monument. 

"As we came up to unveil the statue I was asked by one of the members of the MCC how would you like to unveil the statue, and I said, 'well that's a very tough question because I've never unveiled a statue before so I'll just go with the flow'," Bartlett explained. 

Sculptor Liz Johnson has recreated KB's famous two fists in the air celebration at one-and-a-half times his actual size and the attention to detail is exquisite.

Bartlett's likeness joins other sporting luminaries, including Shane Warne and Jim Stynes, in the Australia Post Avenue of Honour, which links Jolimont train station to the MCG members' forecourt.

The 70-year-old played 403 games for Richmond between 1965 and 1983, including five premierships. 

He played both his first and last game at the MCG.

From player to coach and now talkback broadcaster, Bartlett has endeared himself to generations of Australian football fans.

Putting his usual jovial style aside, he was much more humble than usual. 

"It's a great honour, it sort of represents not only myself, it represents my family, it represents my children, my grandchildren and also future generations," he said. 

"So there's a link there between all of us going forward, that's pretty emotional." 

But, true to his trademark humour he's tipping Richmond to beat Carlton by 191 points in Thursday night's season-opener. 

He later joked at an MCC luncheon he wouldn't turn up for his SEN radio show on Friday morning if the Blues happened to win.