Olympic and world champions Cathy Freeman,Steve Hooker and Sally Pearson were among the mourners to pay tribute to Plant at the church and then the MCG.
Plant was one of the most significant figures in Australian athletics,albeit one with a low public profile. This was despite his work with the BBC and other broadcasters in delivering intelligent and knowledgeable coverage.
Bruce McAvaney spoke emotionally of his long relationship with Plant,who was often by his side either feeding him information or behind the microphone over decades of the world's biggest events.
McAvaney joked of how Plant was famously uncomfortable with offering praise but was liberal with his thoughts if McAvaney had a down call.
As a caller he was equally forthright. On one occasion he intoned of a female Eastern European competitor (later confirmed to be a drug cheat) that she looked more and more like her athlete husband every day.
Plant was not diplomatic,yet diplomats across the globe mourned his passing.