AFL club Melbourne is mourning the death of courageous rover Ian Ridley, a five-time Demons premiership player, coach and administrator.

Ridley died on Thursday, aged 74, after battling emphysema for several years, the Demons said.

He was named an official legend in Melbourne's hall of fame in 2006, named as an emergency in the club's team of the century in 2000 and received life membership from the AFL in 1997.

Nicknamed `Tiger', Ridley was regarded as one of the game's most courageous players.

Remarkably, his 130 games over eight seasons included premierships in 1955, 1956, 1957, 1959 and 1960.

He went on to coach the Demons from 1971 to 1973 and was also the club's president from 1992 to 1996.

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