GEELONG Football Club has paid tribute to John Button, who died on Monday night after a battle with pancreatic cancer.

Mr Button, 74, was a former Labor minister and Senate leader - as well as being infatuated with his beloved Cats.

And he had a special spot in his heart for one of the club's greats, Gary Ablett Senior, Geelong Football Club president Frank Costa said on Tuesday.

Ablett played 242 games and kicked more than 1000 goals for the club, with many considering him the greatest ever Australian football player.

"It's really such an enormous shock, a huge disappointment and great loss," Mr Costa said of Mr Button's death.

"He was absolutely infatuated with Gary Ablett Snr. But he knew almost every player and play (tactic) very well."

When the Geelong Cats Sport Foundation was established four years ago, the first person the club wanted as chairman was Mr Button.

"He agreed to do that straight away and he's been absolutely wonderful in that role," Mr Costa said.

When the foundation held a meeting last week, Mr Button sent a note of apology, saying he could not attend because he had medical appointments.

"At that stage, we had no idea how bad his illness was," Mr Costa said.

Mr Costa said it was one of the greatest moments in Mr Button's life when Geelong won the Grand Final in 2007 - the Cats' first premiership since 1963.

"Both John and I never thought we'd live to see the Cats win another final."

Mr Costa said Mr Button was a humble man, an ordinary footy fan, who was warmly regarded by everyone at the club.

The club also plans to discuss a memorial for Mr Button and the players will wear black arm bands in their AFL clash against St Kilda on Saturday as a mark of respect.