RIP Robbie Flower - Sad Passing of a True Champion

[Vagg 2,439]

Absolutely tragic news! Sincerest condolences to his family.

What a truly great he was of our great footy club. Loved the way he played. Was gutted for him when he missed out on playing in a Grand Final back in 1987 due to Jimmy's unfortunate blunder. Then further gutted for him the next year, when Melb made the Grand Final, and he was given the honour of presenting the medals, only to have to do it to the OTHER team, with Melb being well and truly thumped that sad day in Sept 1988!

I guess I'm even more sobered due to the fact he was just 59, and I'll be marking my 61st birthday tomorrow. Will make my celebration just a little more hollow. How fragile is life, and to be treasured while we have it.

RIP Robbie!!

[poita 3,902]

A very sad day. Robbie was one of the greats of the club and the sport as a whole, and more importantly one of the nicest people you will ever meet. Best wishes to his friends and family.

I was only 8 in 1987 but it was a massive thrill to see Robbie's finals dream come to fruitition and I named my Demon Ruckle after the great man. RIP.

[nutbean 8,838]

Yep me too Bbo

A bit of my youth died last night.

Thank you for all the great memories Tulip.

Thats how I feel too OD. I can still remember his first game when an unknown stick insect called Robert Flower kicked his first goal o debut and joined in the thrashing of Geelong at the G'.

I remember in those days that there was little strategy in football - the most that would happen is players would get moved around, but after Robbie had established himself and declared his genius after a couple of seasons I distinctly remember that we employed this play after the opposition kicked a point. We would stack one side of the ground with all our players except Robbie. We would leave him one out on the half back flank. And then the fullback would just kick the ball to Robbie one on one and he would outmark his opponent or bring it to ground and take off with the ball 11 times out of 10. The pity was he had no one to kick it to as we fairly awful in those days.

I vividly remember Robbie turning the last game of 87 against the dogs where we needed to win to make the finals on its head in a devastating 10 minute burst just after half time.

And one other fond memory was either the final against Swans when he went off the ground to rest him up with about 10 minutes left in the match and the surge of applause and cheering ( read love) when he came off the ground. Just an outpouring of emotion.

I stayed up late last night and read Robbie ( written by Robbie with Ron Reed) which holds place of honour in my bookcase.

During his early years we knew we going to get hammered every week but we went because we get to see a magician ply his trade.

You are right OD , a little bit of my youth died last night.

Edited October 2, 2014 by nutbean

[#11-TonyAnderson 774]

I was honoured to watch him play throughout his career and glad he experienced the 1987 finals in his last year. What an incredible player - a shining light during very dim times and by all accounts a wonderfully humble man off the field. Another great who will be sadly missed. Condolences to all of his loved ones.

[Canberra Demon 159]

A sad day for us all.

Condolences to his family.

A sad loss for us all.

[drdrake 3,163]

Banner is fantastic. Great work.

Yes it is, maybe we should have all the recent fallen heros all on there, they were all taken to young and makes you put your own life in perspective.

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

I'm wearing red and blue to work today as a tribute to the great man.

[beelzebub 23,376]

I'm wearing red and blue to work today as a tribute to the great man.

good idea...so will I.

maybe such an idea could be spread. A sea of Red and Blue as a mark of respect for this great bloke .

[45HG 1,539]

I am stunned by this terribly sad news.

Like many others here I was too young to see him play but almost feel like I have through the eloquent postings often appearing in Demonland. Has the pleasure of meeting him and listening to him speak and, not only was he a wonderful player, but he was an amazing human.

My heart goes out to his family, friends and all those whose lives he made, even just a little bit, better.

[Red and Blue realist 2,051]

I love what the mods have done with the banner today, Robbie looking over the 'G with red and blue in the background.

RIP Robbie.

[beelzebub 23,376]

I just put this up on my fb page

I invite others to do similar and maybe we can see Red and Blue in honour of the great man Robert Flower:

"Yesterday we lost a great champion of the game , a legend of the MFC and a inspiration to many a budding footballer. As a mark of respect today I will wear some red and blue. I invite you all, of any club's following to join as tribute to a man who played the game with honour for his club, respect for his team mates and those of his opposition. At a time when supposed champions make a mockery of their privilege Robbie Flower showed humility and great courage. He never put himself above the game he loved , nor the Club he championed but in doing so stood taller than all of it. A good man passed, may many of his kind follow."

[nutbean 8,838]

I just put this up on my fb page

I invite others to do similar and maybe we can see Red and Blue in honour of the great man Robert Flower:

"Yesterday we lost a great champion of the game , a legend of the MFC and a inspiration to many a budding footballer. As a mark of respect today I will wear some red and blue. I invite you all, of any club's following to join as tribute to a man who played the game with honour for his club, respect for his team mates and those of his opposition. At a time when supposed champions make a mockery of their privilege Robbie Flower showed humility and great courage. He never put himself above the game he loved , nor the Club he championed but in doing so stood taller than all of it. A good man passed, may many of his kind follow."

Forgive me, but this was beautifully worded so I have plagiarised it for my FB page. ( gave you credit though !)

[beelzebub 23,376]

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.

Was thinking the same.

There is injustice in many places and ways and this encapsulates it in respect to our great game.

Such a sad way to be able to highlight the distinction of two types of men. I know who I would want to emulate and have others do so. As always , it more about substance ( npi ) than veneer.

[Flying Cloud 152]

RIP Robbie

[iv'a worn smith 1,979]

I have no words. Words are not enough. A great man on and off the field. Derby Day will not be the same without you in the Nursery. You're safely home now mate.

Edited October 2, 2014 by iv'a worn smith

[whoszachunt 29]

A true Champion of the game , for our Club and in life. Always made time for everybody whenever he could. Met him at a local North Hobart Demons Dinner in Hobart. He was the guest speaker. He willingly autographed my evening program. Wonderful man..Condolences to his family.. R.I.P. Robbie..

[stinga81 210]

I was too young to remember seeing Robbie play live.

I had to rely on me Dad, Uncles and Gpa telling me the stories of this MFC Icon.

I remember being a young kid in the back yard mimicking a player that I was too young to see play live, instead using my imagination from the stories shared to me.

But three things were told to me at I reckon every family gathering from when I can remember as a kid to 2003 when my Gpa passed away.

"He was the only reason we went to the football"

"He was the Dees for a period, where there was nothing"

"We were so bad, but we new Robbie would save the day"

Thanks for giving my MFC supporting Family and so many others hope, fantastic memories and a chance to share in a common bond.

One things for sure, when my Daughter is old enough, Robbie has jumped Jako and Stinga, as the first melbourne hero I will tell her about.

RIP to an Icon of our great Club.

Vale Robert 'Tulip' Flower. #2

Edited October 2, 2014 by stinga81

[Maldonboy38 6,403]

It is inconceivable that Robbie never won a Brownlow. Keith Greig was skillful but soft and won two of them. How does that work? How could thugs like Libba (who I hated) and Dippa (who I liked until he flattened Robbie in '87) win a best and FAIREST?

It is even harder to contemplate that he only won one Bluey Truscott trophy for B&F. It speaks volumes about the dysfunction of our club when one of the best players ever to play the game (let alone for our club), playing in a team which were pathetic, could only win the Bluey once.

Wearing Red & Blue today also.

[The Song Formerly Known As 6,479]

Nathan Jones ✔ @nathan2jones

Devastated! An absolute gentleman, so many great memories. I'm very grateful and honored to be forever bonded by our numbers

Nathan Jones ✔ @nathan2jones

More importantly the friendship and support you gave along the way, your infectious positivity kept me going, Thank you Robbie

Nathan Jones ✔ @nathan2jones

You had such a huge impact on me, more than you knew. My deepest condolences go out to the the flower family at this terribly sad time #2

Looking at Robbie Flower's win to loss record (losses outweighing wins by a mile) amongst other things such as upholding loyalty and love for the club/jumper/game then taking into account Jonesy's tweets. I'm certain the pair shared a respect for one another that far surpassed simply sharing the same number.

Edited October 3, 2014 by The Song Formerly Known As

[norwood_demon 196]

Robbie, you will always be front & centre in our hearts

[Forest Demon 4,681]

Condolences to the family. A great of the game who stuck with this club throughout, even after retirement. And for me, that is the main reason he should go down as our favourite son of all time.

[beelzebub 23,376]

It is inconceivable that Robbie never won a Brownlow. Keith Greig was skillful but soft and won two of them. How does that work? How could thugs like Libba (who I hated) and Dippa (who I liked until he flattened Robbie in '87) win a best and FAIREST?

It is even harder to contemplate that he only won one Bluey Truscott trophy for B&F. It speaks volumes about the dysfunction of our club when one of the best players ever to play the game (let alone for our club), playing in a team which were pathetic, could only win the Bluey once.

Wearing Red & Blue today also.

Couldnt agree more. Will always remember watching Dippa and I think it was Lethal line up Robbie in that game. You could see it like a train wreck and Robbie didnt flinch. Was a dog act. I suppose a peculiar mark of respect it too k them two to take out one.

Sometimes its only when yo look back you see things in a clearer focus and realise much of what is lauded and celebrated is really shallow , hollow and trivial.

Melbourne was lucky to have Flower as a player and the game was richer for his being a part of it.

[reynolds46 1,241]

RIP Robbie -true legend of MFC and the game. Loyal and courageous with sublime skills. You were the 1 shining light throughout my childhood demon supporting days.

[The Chazz 4,077]

I reckon this one hurts more than any previous - abssolutely no disrepect to any that have departed.

Like most, I barrack for Melbourne wholey and soley due to my dad, who passed a couple of years ago, sadly in his later 50's too. I wouldn't have it any other way. Robbie gave him quite a deal of hope during those tough years, and the memories I have of "that" 1987 season, of going to the footy with my dad and watching Robbie alone, will never die.

My first MFC jumper had the number 2 on the back. At the start of 1988, my mum sewed a number 7 to it on the right of the existing number 2.

I'm in my 30's, and it's totally shattering that 3 of my top 4 all time favourite players are no longer with us (take care please, Wiz!). I should be celebrating their passing when I'm in my 50's or 60's, watching old footage with my son and daughter. Instead, I have to watch Youtube clips on my own because my boy is only 10 weeks old, and my girl (2) isn't really interested in Youtube unless it's to watch Peppa Pig or The Wiggles. The occasional "Go Dees" is quite cute though when she sees higlights of Robbie, but it brings a tear to the eye when it's not directed at the great man himself. It will one day.

[beelzebub 23,376]

He wore the #2 ..but willl always be my number One Demon

Well hopefully this number 2 and the other 2 ( 1+1 ) can guide us from above.

Two decent blokes taken way before their time.

Sad, and unfair