Thousands of people – from famous musicians to sports stars – have crowded the MCG to pay tribute to spin king Shane Warne.

There was barely a dry eye in the house as his father Keith Warne remembered his son’s generous spirit, in a moving eulogy.

“The joy he brought, to so many people along the way, it will forever bring us comfort,” he said.

“In Shane’s typical humble manner, the Aussie boy from Black Rock said of himself, ‘I smoked, I drank, and I played a little cricket’.

“Mate your mother and I cannot imagine life without you. You’ve been taken too soon, and our hearts are broken.”

Melbourne’s 3AW Drive producer Frizz Ferguson said it was one of many emotional moments.

“It’s just a beautiful, beautiful service that’s happening here tonight,” she told Oliver Peterson.

“We’re expect over 50,000 here tonight, and the skies are cloudy but there’s no rain yet, so hopefully that stays away.

“Warnie loved Melbourne – and it is perfect Melbourne weather it’s just beautiful.”

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Meantime, fans of the cricketing legend also descended on Optus Stadium to watch the ceremony live on the big screens.

6PR and Nine News reporter Jake Battrick said many were soaking in the emotional tributes.

“There’s now several hundred fans sitting on the broadcast wing of Optus Stadium, gazing up at the screens,” he told Perth LIVE.

“We started off with the national anthem from Greta Bradman, the granddaughter of Sir Donald Bradman, she’s an opera singer – and that was an absolutely sensational rendition.”

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Photo credit: Joe Armao – The Age