Beautiful piece about one of our true greats - Time catches up with Robbie Flower

Thanks WJ.

"Yet, by all accounts, around the club, he was just another person. When Melbourne's long-time doorman Arthur Wilkinson had a period when he couldn't drive, it was Flower, the Melbourne captain, who picked him up each night before training and took him home".

So many great stories have emerged over the past week.

Again, Martin Flanagan encapsulates, expresses and delivers the essence of the subject that he has chosen to write about.

Is there a contemporary journalist who does it better?

Thank you Martin.

Unfortunately I'm too young to have watched Robbie play.

My dad talks about him as the singular reason why he watched the Dees throughout all those horrible years.

As he says, "as bad as Melbourne were, without fail every week Robbie would do something to make you come back the next week".

Flanagan is, yet again, spot on.

Edited October 10, 201411 yr by Vanilla Gorilla

Martin is head and shoulders above most of the journos of today.

Yet another wonderful article.

Without doubt the finest sports writer in this country. Whilst so many of his colleagues seem determined to lower the bar, Flanagan refuses to join them.

Great piece. In my mind I was thinking about the loss of Frawley and the scourge of players looking for the quick success and I think Martin has summed it up perfectly here

"We are now in the era of free agency, which is going to lead to the competition dividing into first-world clubs and third-world clubs. To the players utilising free-agency rules, I'd like to say there is something you'll never know. You'll never know the feeling people have for Robbie Flower. You're a professional sportsman and you'll be cheered for winning performances and, if you're lucky, you'll get professional satisfaction from your efforts. But you'll never receive the gratitude and respect, the depth of feeling, that's going to be at the MCG on Monday at 2pm when people gather for Robbie Flower."

Nathan Jones is heading towards Robbie's level of love. Sticking by the club through horrible times, giving his all week in week out.

Great piece. In my mind I was thinking about the loss of Frawley and the scourge of players looking for the quick success and I think Martin has summed it up perfectly here

"We are now in the era of free agency, which is going to lead to the competition dividing into first-world clubs and third-world clubs. To the players utilising free-agency rules, I'd like to say there is something you'll never know. You'll never know the feeling people have for Robbie Flower. You're a professional sportsman and you'll be cheered for winning performances and, if you're lucky, you'll get professional satisfaction from your efforts. But you'll never receive the gratitude and respect, the depth of feeling, that's going to be at the MCG on Monday at 2pm when people gather for Robbie Flower."

Nathan Jones is heading towards Robbie's level of love. Sticking by the club through horrible times, giving his all week in week out.

And doing the number 2 justice

Great piece. In my mind I was thinking about the loss of Frawley and the scourge of players looking for the quick success and I think Martin has summed it up perfectly here

"We are now in the era of free agency, which is going to lead to the competition dividing into first-world clubs and third-world clubs. To the players utilising free-agency rules, I'd like to say there is something you'll never know. You'll never know the feeling people have for Robbie Flower. You're a professional sportsman and you'll be cheered for winning performances and, if you're lucky, you'll get professional satisfaction from your efforts. But you'll never receive the gratitude and respect, the depth of feeling, that's going to be at the MCG on Monday at 2pm when people gather for Robbie Flower."

Nathan Jones is heading towards Robbie's level of love. Sticking by the club through horrible times, giving his all week in week out.

It's this part of Flanners article that I took too, 'hells bells'. He's managed to utterly nail the essential loss that the modern free agency era is driving. The future of the AFL is the fans.......us. It is a club based sport, and we value loyalty and diligence probably above all things. Yes, players have essential rights to self determination, and they should be protected, but if the current trends are working to diminish the importance of the kind of attitude that Robbie lived, breathed, and played, then woe to them that encourage them.

Do you think the AFLPA and Gill and his mates will realise it? I'm not hopeful.

It's this part of Flanners article that I took too, 'hells bells'. He's managed to utterly nail the essential loss that the modern free agency era is driving. The future of the AFL is the fans.......us. It is a club based sport, and we value loyalty and diligence probably above all things. Yes, players have essential rights to self determination, and they should be protected, but if the current trends are working to diminish the importance of the kind of attitude that Robbie lived, breathed, and played, then woe to them that encourage them.

Do you think the AFLPA and Gill and his mates will realise it? I'm not hopeful.

since fully professional, the gap & the fence has been built higher keeping the fans away.

free agency is further eroding the values that grass roots supporters hold dear. that their heros will stay & fight to the death upholding they're communities values & honor.

its going away from community & team; & even more toward the i in selfish motives...

Edited October 11, 201411 yr by dee-luded

The thing that bugs me about it is that a "Premiership" has become the ONLY measure of success. I think this is Martin's point, the pure love and adoration of the fans of a one club player is now no longer a measure of a successful career.

The thing that bugs me about it is that a "Premiership" has become the ONLY measure of success. I think this is Martin's point, the pure love and adoration of the fans of a one club player is now no longer a measure of a successful career.

I think Martins point is the demise of the game as it was innocent & exhilarating; & its being raped by too many rule changes.

I think Martin is grieving the loss of the games original nature & character.

Like so many here, my siblings and I grew up watching and marveling at Robbie Flower, our shining light in regular weekly losses. After reading the article this morning, I decided to take the afternoon off work and pay my respects to him at the G on Monday afternoon.

See you there.

Wonderful article about a wonderful man.

Great piece. In my mind I was thinking about the loss of Frawley and the scourge of players looking for the quick success and I think Martin has summed it up perfectly here

"We are now in the era of free agency, which is going to lead to the competition dividing into first-world clubs and third-world clubs. To the players utilising free-agency rules, I'd like to say there is something you'll never know. You'll never know the feeling people have for Robbie Flower. You're a professional sportsman and you'll be cheered for winning performances and, if you're lucky, you'll get professional satisfaction from your efforts. But you'll never receive the gratitude and respect, the depth of feeling, that's going to be at the MCG on Monday at 2pm when people gather for Robbie Flower."

Nathan Jones is heading towards Robbie's level of love. Sticking by the club through horrible times, giving his all week in week out.

Great piece!

For those who weren't fortunate enough to see Robbie play: Martin Flanagan is to today's football writers, as Robbie was on the football field. Peerless!

And doing the number 2 justice

Agree. Yet there is no similarity with the way they play. Two completely different styles but with the apparent same love for the guernsey.