RIP Robbie Flower - Sad Passing of a True Champion

[Rocknroll 1,002]

Sad News, I grew up under a signed poster of robbie picking up a sherrin with one hand.

Was a star, I will miss you,

condolences to friends and family, sad loss

[Demonsone 1,948]

RIP.... A champion & true clubman....

Was a great time to watch him play finals in 1987....

We now have lost Sean White, Jim Stynes & Flower from that final series.....

[Gorgoroth 12,701]

Best Banner ever.

Leave it for a year.

[Nasher 33,607]

I'm another too young and distant to have seen him play. Condolences to all of Robbie's family, the MFC family and my friends on Demonland.

[Outside fifty 967]

I was one of the lucky ones. Many a time I watched that skinny kid dance in the long afternoon shadows of the members stand, He danced like a demon and mesmerised them all. He turned football into an art form and the "G" was his canvas and his alone. And all the while he looked as if he had no right too. But dance he did, a dance burn't into the memory of all that witnessed it. Vale Robbie

[PJ_12345 1,098]

Love the banner - great work.

[Diablo Deemon 220]

Robbie flower RIP. I love what you did for this club. When we question loyalty and commitment we are lucky enough to have you as the example.

My best wishes to your family and friends at this tragic time.

You are my hero.

[Bitter but optimistic 22,057]

In his day, Robbie was bigger than anyone - Barassi, lyon, Nietz even Stynes. He was a magnificent footballer who played with grace speed and courage. He was not physically imposing and played in an era when "hit men" still plied their trade.

During the early eighties, Robbie was the only reason for going to watch the Dees. I and thousands of others would go to watch Robbie play while Melbourne were flogged.

I clearly remember one day when Robbie was a late withdrawal, the palpable sense of disappointment among Dees supporters. Robbie was acknowledged and admired by all - even opposition supporters would applaud him.

What a player!

[rpfc 28,046]

My dad knew him quite well being a journo and then involved at the club.

Was well enough to have a beer with mates last week.

I am too young to appreciate Robbie but I do appreciate his effect on my dad, which has been vast and lasting.

He made an impression in my life.

[Mozzie Bear 23]

RIP Robbie Flower

Condolences to your family, friends, to all those connected with the Melbourne Football Club

I've heard the word loyalty mentioned in connection with Robbie since this sad announcement was made. At a time when the MFC was not travelling well, there was a magnificent and graceful player who devoted his football career to one team and became a legend. Thank God for your loyalty and commitment to the MFC. Rest in Peace.

[samcantstandya 1,031]

Very nice piece here by Mike Sheahan, who says Flower was his all-time favourite player.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/you-were-a-great-human-being-tulip/story-fni0fiyv-1227078327629

That was a gr8 tribute, that and Crosswell's. I remember that final game at Whitten Oval in the cold willing him on and he didn't let us down and the utter joy when the other results fell our way. He was a sensational mark, graceful and was so evasive no-one could catch him. I never saw him do anything nasty on the field, he was a champion in every sense of the word.

[mdemon 266]

Interesting to see former footballers on the front pages of this morning's newspapers.

Both revered by their respective Clubs.

One played in a Premiership and won a Brownlow, the other one didn't.

One was the epitome of selflessness, grace & humility, the other one isn't.

[Adzman 2,153]

RIP Robert Flower. You changed the game, and will always be remembered as on of the demon greats of the game.

[ManDee 7,124]

Vale Sir Robert, a gentleman and a champion.

Edit:- My favorite player. MBE DRBM Melbournes Best Ever Deserves Retrospective Brownlow Medal

Edited October 2, 2014 by ManDee

[Leoncelli_36 2,264]

I started going to the footy with my dad in 1987. My first jumper was #2. When I would play football in the backyard by myself I was always Robbie. He was the most gifted footballer I have seen. Evasive, slight of foot, graceful, exceptional reader of the play and a real gentlemen off the field. RIP Tulip

[old dee 23,486]

In his day, Robbie was bigger than anyone - Barassi, lyon, Nietz even Stynes. He was a magnificent footballer who played with grace speed and courage. He was not physically imposing and played in an era when "hit men" still plied their trade.

During the early eighties, Robbie was the only reason for going to watch the Dees. I and thousands of others would go to watch Robbie play while Melbourne were flogged.

I clearly remember one day when Robbie was a late withdrawal, the palpable sense of disappointment among Dees supporters. Robbie was acknowledged and admired by all - even opposition supporters would applaud him.

What a player!

Yep me too Bbo

A bit of my youth died last night.

Thank you for all the great memories Tulip.

[Demoneyes 562]

Terrible news to wake up to! A true champion of our club and he will be missed. I remember going to a lot of games in the 70's - 80's and we didn't win many but it was always a visual feast when Mr R Flower got the ball. Best wishes to his family and farewell to a club legend.

[The Chazz 4,077]

My greatest (personal) memory;

My parents drove me down from Ballarat to Robbie's Sportsco store (in Box Hill from memory?) when I was about 6 or 7. It was time that my parents bought me my first MFC jumper, and it had to be purchased from the great man. We waited until Robbie could serve me, I was starstruck. He didn't have any/many MFC jumpers in store, not in my size anyway. To ensure we got the right size, Robbie embarrassingly got me to try on a different jumper to ensure he ordered the right size. That jumper was a Collingwood jumper. As a MFC tragic, Robbie could tell the spot he put me in, so with his calm and reassuring voice said "just close your eyes and block your nose". Loved it.

Is it possible for our home games in future that we rename "members wing" to "Flower's Wing"? Surely we can do something, even if it is only for our games, to honour this great man, on the oval of some of his greatest memories?

RIP Robbie, you're a bloody legend.

Edited October 2, 2014 by billy2803

[Demon Stalwart 255]

Woke up this morning to the Terrible news about Robbie .

I don't mind saying I shed a tear when I heard on TV how he had passed away and he was only 59

A True Champion and one of the Few real legends of the MFC

They don't make players like Robbie anymore where the Club and the supporters where all part of his Family

As a Family we will mourn his passing and honor him fully in death as we did in life

Thank you Robbie for all the wonderful memories .

My deepest Sympathies to his Family the MFC and all of us as supporters who will always remember and honor Robbie the way he deserves

In Memory of Robbie a poem to help him on his way

God saw you getting tired
and a cure was not to be
so he put his arms around you
and whispered,
"Come to Me"

With tearful eyes we watched you
and saw you pass away
and although we love you dearly
we could not make you stay.

A Golden heart stopped beating
hard working hands at rest.
God broke our hearts to prove to us
He only takes the best

[DemonOX 8,692]

He deserves his own statue outside the MCG.

Make it happen MFC and MCC.

[TRIGON 4,768]

Sad sad news.

For those who never saw him play he was, and will probably remain, the most elegant player to ever grace the game.

[nutbean 8,838]

In some ways, I'm pleasantly surprised at how much he's revered by supporters of other clubs, too

I'm not. Even during his playing days he was enormously respected by (thinking) supporters of other clubs. He was a magician on the field, displayed untold wells of courage and fairness and his most endearing quality ( if the aforementioned is not enough) was his humility. I'm not surprised at all.

[beelzebub 23,198]

I'm another too young and distant to have seen him play. Condolences to all of Robbie's family, the MFC family and my friends on Demonland.

Nasher, you truly would have been in raptures and high spirits watching this champ play. Even when we were rubbish he NEVER lowered the colours. I find it unbelievable that he never won a Brownlow for there would have been few ever that were FAIRER as well as a champion. He really was without peer in his day.

He sort of always played above his weight. Was just a joy to watch.

Its not often Im truly sad at the passing of someone I didnt really know ( met a couple of times ) , but I am today.

As testament to his standing I wont be at all surprised by those that remark on his passing.

A sad time for we Demons, a sad loss for his family.

[diesel 420]

I don't think there's any greater proof of the blokes influence as a footballer and his example to be admired in saying that he was the reason I came to support Melbourne. Swept up in the fervour of the run to the finals in '87. Well played Robbie. Legend!

[clark's kick 155]

Banner is fantastic. Great work.