State funeral on May 17 for Lou Richards

Plans are under way in Victoria for a state funeral for footy legend Lou Richards after his family accepted the premier's offer of a public farewell next week.

Richards died in a Melbourne nursing home on Monday aged 94 after a long and celebrated career as a footballer and media figure.

His family accepted on Tuesday the state government's offer of a state funeral that would give all Victorians a chance to say their final goodbyes.

His daughter Nicole Morrison said she thought her dad would be really proud to think that someone who grew up in Collingwood and lived most of his life in Abbotsford would be offered a state funeral.

"I think that would be a great honour. I'm really thankful to the premier for offering that to us. We're very, very proud of that," she said on Tuesday.

The state funeral will be held at St Paul's Cathedral on May 17 at 11am.

Premier Daniel Andrews had offered the state service to allow all Victorians to say thank you to Richards for a life well lived "and a very generous one".

Richards captained Collingwood's 1953 VFL premiership side before becoming one of the AFL's most beloved figures in print and television from the 1950s through to the 90s.

Ms Morrison said the outpouring of support after her father's death had been lovely.