Jump to content

RIP Robbie Flower - Sad Passing of a True Champion

Featured Replies

 

Some years ago, Demonland's markc put together a DVD of Robbie's highlights sourced from various videotapes & tv replays.

He kindly made this available to Demonland / Demonology posters in return for a small donation to the club

Technology has moved on a bit - we now have YouTube so with Chook in Perth's prompting and his then obtaining markc's agreement, I've uploaded it for all to view

It's just shy of 17 minutes that most of us will watch more than once I'm tipping

Thanks markc

Robbie Flower Highlights

 

I wish I could take all the credit for it but alas I only arranged the copies

I believe Ash ( member here also ) at the time arranged the clips and I just arranged the copes and handed them out

all monies collected was sent to the club at the time

i must say at times like this and with family matters myself i thank demonland for being here

its such a great place to come and take your mind of other things and enjoy reading about the MFC

mark


I wish I could take all the credit for it but alas I only arranged the copies

I believe Ash ( member here also ) at the time arranged the clips and I just arranged the copes and handed them out

all monies collected was sent to the club at the time

i must say at times like this and with family matters myself i thank demonland for being here

its such a great place to come and take your mind of other things and enjoy reading about the MFC

mark

I received a copy of the Robbie DVD many years ago dug it up last Friday night and watched it.

From memory Ash was an Essendon supporter who would read Demoanld as his wife was a Melbourne supporter?????

yes Ash was a Essendon supporter

very nice bloke

Wow i just looked up the stats.

Robbie's first game was on my 10th Birthday.

I remember that day so well sitting next to the Smokers Stand Ponsford side.

 

Great find WJ. And good to be reminded that 3KZ IS football

Jeez you look at some of the names in that team & you wonder why we were so rubbish

Diamond Jim might pay a handsome price for that footy record. 6 goals from the big unit !


Rob loved days like today.

He probably would have thought it a tad hot for footy, but would have played and dominated, anyway.

His greatest pastime on days like to day would be cooking a BBQ for family and friends, playing golf, or on his boat catching a few "Flatties" and maybe the odd "Schnapper" in Port Phillip bay, or just shooting the breeze on his sundeck at Sorrento.

Rob was at his happiest when you were happy, it seemed as if by some magical formula he had the "knack" of making you feel as if you were the most important person at that moment he was speaking to you. He loved his family and he loved and valued his friends!

Charismatic people have this gift. Some use it for gain, and power, Rob used his charisma because he was genuinely interested in you and your family.

Yes Rob was a "Superstar" footballer Bernie Quinlan so rightly said yesterday.

But Above and Beyond he was a "Mega Superstar" person! Is this not a better, more substantially satisfying legacy to leave?

In private life he was a generous with his time and expertise, as he appeared in public life.

I have seen and been lucky enough to witness the way he gently and compassionately met people who at the conclusion of an interaction walked away much happier for the experience. Floating on air is as real as an experienceI have seen and been a part of, and just as euphoric! Just ask any who met him and knew him. I count myself extremely lucky and enriched by knowing him as a friend and mentor! The Euphoria stayed with you and lingered on and on.

Over the 35 odd years I have known the man, I have been extremely fortunate to have been welcomed into part of the fabric of his life.

He had many "Brothers" in arms and his own two brothers, Tom and Jim must have thought that they had won tattslotto every day of their lives having him as a brother.

I can tell you he felt the same way about them!

A more gentle, humble, empathic, generous, self effacing, humorous, genuine person you could not find than Rob Flower.

I was at his funeral yesterday, and I will be at his public funeral tomorrow.

Each time I look up at the sky on a clear night I will seek out the brightest star. If all stars represent great people, then Rob's star will surely be the brightest!

With more people like Rob Flower in the world, it would be a more sensational place to be!

Vale Rob Flower, a shining light in my life, never forgotten, always remembered

"No Regrets"

Thanks mate

I love the banner, a wonderful tribute to a wonderful man. Would love it if we could something going with a legend from each era.

Eg:

Checker > Smith > Barrass > Mann > Flower > Stynes > Neitz > Jones

I’ll add my few cents…possibly probably a bit self-indulgent but hopefully that can be excused for an occasional poster in these circumstances.

My dad started taking me to the footy in about 1981 when I was 10 and my sister was 8. From that time on we went to nearly all the home games at the ‘G, often to Waverly Arctic Park, and then as we got older to more and more of the enemy territories (Moorabin, Western Oval including that game in ‘87, and the Junction). So I was fortunate enough to see Robbie play a lot, and he was my hero from Day 1. I think I’ve taken for granted how often I got to see him play, and reading the responses here from the younger members makes me appreciate it more.

We lived on the Mornington Peninsula but my dad was originally a Murrumbeena boy and when he was 21/22 and playing for Murrumbeena 1s he also coached the Murrumbeena Districts under 11s, featuring none other than R. Flower.

I live in country NSW now but was visiting my folks this past week while the kids were on school holidays so we did a lot of reminiscing and also a lot of rummaging around in my old bedroom, and this was in the cupboard. It’s hard to see (camera photo) but there are two signatures on the number two: Flower and Barassi. Believe it or not in the pocket was a ticket (booked through Bass!) for the 13th of September 1987 (the flogging of the Swans).

IMAG0320.jpg

After more digging around we also uncovered the poster that adorned my wall from the mid-80s until I left home (longer really, as I kept coming home to play cricket on weekends, so it remained on display in my room).

IMAG0321.jpg

Dad has more stuff, a picture of the U11s side, the gift they gave him as coach, a three page fax from Robbie that Paul O’Brien (who taught with dad ) organised when dad finally gave up the teaching game.

Memorabilia aside, my memories of Robbie the footballer are inclined towards hero-worship, no matter what happened he could do no wrong. Watching the old youtube stuff shows things I’d forgotten, or possibly never appreciated, how quick he was, how he routinely made would-be tacklers look silly, how his kicks were low and very penetrating.

It’s horribly sad and my heart goes out to his family.

To complete the loop a little, for me anyway, when I was at Uni I ended up living in Murrumbeena and although I’d been playing Rugby Union while at Uni (more as a drinking exercise than physical exercise) I had a crack at footy for one year because I knew I was moving overseas the next. I played at the ‘Beena, 15-16 very undistinguished games in the Magoos as a ‘determined backman’. Great fun, made great friends and was proud as punch to play at the same club as my dad.

Nice post Ken, I can relate to what you saw of Robbie as I started taking my 4 kids to Demon games in 1982 when I was in Ballarat.

My eldest is your age and he treasures the memories of RF as do my other children.

Sad as you say to see another Demon legend pass.

FROM THE MELBOURNE FOOTBALL CLUB SITE:

A MEMORIAL service to celebrate the life of Robert Flower will be held at the MCG on Monday 13 October at 2pm.

Details of the service are below.

- The memorial service will be held in the Members Dining Room for family, friends and colleagues of Robert. Refreshments will follow this memorial service in the Long Room.

- The Percy Beames Bar will be available for the broader public who loved Robert from afar, where a live broadcast of the memorial service will be shown.

Free parking will be available in Yarra Park via Gate 3 from 12:30pm. Attendees are to enter the MCG via Gate 2 and take escalators to Level 2 or use lifts (5, 6 & 7).


Attended the service today. It was a moving day.

Those that knew him personally loved him for his off field achievements rather than his on field brilliance

What a great man.

Thankyou Bernie Quinlan for your wonderful tribute to Robbie Flower.

Coming from a celebrated champion such as yourself means a great deal to to countless Demon supporters.

Thankyou Bernie Quinlan for your wonderful tribute to Robbie Flower.

Coming from a celebrated champion such as yourself means a great deal to to countless Demon supporters.

Yes looking at the tributes, Quinlan was fantastic and Greg Shalless and his poem was first class.

But I heard Dipper was there?? Really?

Sorry I hold some old grudges that Robbie, God Rest his Soul, never did!


I too was at the G today and felt priviledged to be there.

His brother Tom spoke beautifully, i struggled to stop the eyes welling with tears when he said he didnt just lose a brother, he lost his hero. All who spoke today held themselves together beautifully, but had moments where they could not hold back their emotions. Mike Sheahan probably most notably of all speakers when he told of how Robbie asked Mikes permission to chat to his daughter about an illness she had been dealing with at the time.

Greg Shaless read his ode to Robbie Flower whilst they played highlights of his career...again i struggled not to cry.

A beautiful service, but such a sad loss for his family and friends. It seems the genius we all know who owned the members wing at the G was just as idolised by those that had any dealings or contact with him in life away from the MCG.

I have no doubt there will be a statue somewhere near that wing in the near future!

We will all miss you Bob. Thankyou for the many memories of you that can never be erased from our minds.

Yes looking at the tributes, Quinlan was fantastic and Greg Shalless and his poem was first class.

But I heard Dipper was there?? Really?

Sorry I hold some old grudges that Robbie, God Rest his Soul, never did!

dipper and robbie were at the grand final together.

rememberingrobbie

sorry i couldn't make it, missed the day, missed the celebration, not feeling up to it,

just trying to imagine it there today

r.i.p. rf

 

Was Big Carl at the 'G on monday?

I was in the Percy Beames bar WYL, all friends family colleagues etc were inside the members dining room, so I'm not sure, however he was mentioned twice during the service so u would not be surprised if he was in there. T Viney said during his speech that Robbie loved playing with Big Carl!


Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Featured Content

  • NON-MFC: Round 15

    As the Demons head into their Bye Round, it's time to turn our attention to the other matches being played. Which teams are you tipping this week? And which results would be most favourable for the Demons if we can manage to turn our season around? Follow all the non-Melbourne games here and join the conversation as the ladder continues to take shape.

      • Like
    • 276 replies
  • REPORT: Port Adelaide

    Of course, it’s not the backline, you might argue and you would probably be right. It’s the boot studder (do they still have them?), the midfield, the recruiting staff, the forward line, the kicking coach, the Board, the interchange bench, the supporters, the folk at Casey, the head coach and the club psychologist  It’s all of them and all of us for having expectations that were sufficiently high to have believed three weeks ago that a restoration of the Melbourne team to a position where we might still be in contention for a finals berth when the time for the midseason bye arrived. Now let’s look at what happened over the period of time since Melbourne overwhelmed the Sydney Swans at the MCG in late May when it kicked 8.2 to 5.3 in the final quarter (and that was after scoring 3.8 to two straight goals in the second term). 

      • Clap
      • Thanks
      • Like
    • 3 replies
  • CASEY: Essendon

    Casey’s unbeaten run was extended for at least another fortnight after the Demons overran a persistent Essendon line up by 29 points at ETU Stadium in Port Melbourne last night. After conceding the first goal of the evening, Casey went on a scoring spree from about ten minutes in, with five unanswered majors with its fleet of midsized runners headed by the much improved Paddy Cross who kicked two in quick succession and livewire Ricky Mentha who also kicked an early goal. Leading the charge was recruit of the year, Riley Bonner while Bailey Laurie continued his impressive vein of form. With Tom Campbell missing from the lineup, Will Verrall stepped up to the plate demonstrating his improvement under the veteran ruckman’s tutelage. The Demons were looking comfortable for much of the second quarter and held a 25-point lead until the Bombers struck back with two goals in the shadows of half time. On the other side of the main break their revival continued with first three goals of the half. Harry Sharp, who had been quiet scrambled in the Demons’ first score of the third term to bring the margin back to a single point at the 17 minute mark and the game became an arm-wrestle for the remainder of the quarter and into the final moments of the last.

      • Clap
    • 0 replies
  • PREGAME: Gold Coast

    The Demons have the Bye next week but then are on the road once again when they come up against the Gold Coast Suns on the Gold Coast in what could be a last ditch effort to salvage their season. Who comes in and who comes out?

      • Thanks
    • 138 replies
  • PODCAST: Port Adelaide

    The Demonland Podcast will air LIVE on Monday, 16th June @ 8:00pm. Join Binman, George & I as we dissect the Dees disappointing loss to the Power.
    Your questions and comments are a huge part of our podcast so please post anything you want to ask or say below and we'll give you a shout out on the show.
    Listen LIVE: https://demonland.com/

      • Thanks
    • 33 replies
  • POSTGAME: Port Adelaide

    The Demons simply did not take their opportunities when they presented themselves and ultimately when down by 25 points effectively ending their finals chances. Goal kicking practice during the Bye?

      • Haha
      • Thanks
    • 252 replies