Anger at yells during Ron Clarke tribute

People who yelled out during the minute's silence to mark the death of sporting legend Ron Clarke at the MCG State of Origin match have been called "disrespectful idiots".

"It's important today we call this out for the disrespectful appalling behaviour for what it was, but at the same time let's not be distracted from Ron Clarke - such a great Australian," Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews told the Nine Network on Thursday.

Clarke, who lit the cauldron at the 1956 Melbourne Games and set 17 world records in middle distance running, died on Wednesday after a short illness. He was 78.