2 hours ago, tiers said:

Where we once had the stab pass we now have the Clarry Pass.

Low, flat, hard, fast, direct, accurate onto the chest, over long distance and performed at full speed.

Others (Salem) can pass the ball perfectly but none with as much authority and class.

The kicks to Neal-Bullen, Garlett and Tracca as well to kick his goal were as attractive and effective as those from the past.

To go with his ball winning ability, hand passing, tackling, running and field kicking, are there any other so far unrevealed sublime skills to come? What a joy to watch.

 

He already has the best vision on the field with the ball I’ve ever seen at MFC. 

On these threads we’ve always wanted an A-grade elite player (mid). We have one.

 

9 minutes ago, H_T said:

He already has the best vision on the field with the ball I’ve ever seen at MFC. 

On these threads we’ve always wanted an A-grade elite player (mid). We have one.

 

Brayshaw is fast becoming one also.

10 minutes ago, H_T said:

He already has the best vision on the field with the ball I’ve ever seen at MFC. 

On these threads we’ve always wanted an A-grade elite player (mid). We have one.

 

A+ i'd say

2 hours ago, tiers said:

It is not fair to compare anyone with Robbie. He played in a much higher universe to mere mortals. 

 

After Robbie,  for pure exposed God given talent (not durability), I say:

David Schwarz (for all round skill and the ability to to remake and rebuild his game after injury and be a champion twice)

Allen Jackovich and Liam Jurrah (equal as sublime forwards each in his own way)

Clayton Oliver (enough said)

The rest.

Can't believe people are forgetting about Travis Johnstone....

3 hours ago, Win4theAges said:

He just starting to kick it alot more now, he kicks it a mile old clarry. A Brownlow beacons for the little master.

Kangaroos have nightmares of Clarry thumping the cr@p out of their sherrin'd skins

Flower is simply number one, because:

1. Amazing skills and awareness, pure natural talent.

2. His consistency to do that over his entire career, not just a few stellar seasons.

3. He was a class above again when play state football with the best in the state/country at that time.

4.  He was often injured but still amazing.  Would have cracked 300 games if he wasn't hurt as much, as other clubs constantly targets him (as he was the best) and his build was splight.

5. Could play AFL today and still sit above current players.  Not many players could play to the same level and class in different eras. 

Others Hopefully Oliver can match and possibly surpass him in the context of the modern game. The others were amazing talented, but unfortunately not long or consistently enough for our team success. 

 

 

 

 

Robbie was courageous, a 2-way runner, quick, could run all day, and had phenomenal skills. He'd be the best player in any of our teams since 1965 onwards.

Heck, he'd give RDB a run for his money as our best during our golden era.

Edited July 16, 20186 yr by Demon Disciple

7 hours ago, Deeoldfart said:

Without checking the stats, my impression is that he has recently increased his kick to handball ratio.

If I recall correctly, Joey Montagna had a 3-5 min video segment on Oliver on fox footy's 'The Weekend Lowdown' about 2 months ago saying he wasn't yet a top 5 (or was it top 10?) midfielder because of the kick/handball ratio, after Oliver texted in the week earlier in a joking way asking why he wasn't in the top  midfielders of the AFL list that was run on the show.

There was a slight shift the following weeks as you noticed him taking the kicking option a little more often. But the past month has been an absolute flip of the switch as you see how much confidence he now has to burst away and fire in those long bullet passes. 

 

 

Edited July 16, 20186 yr by John Demonic

7 hours ago, Demon Disciple said:

Would be fantastic if he kicked the ball a little more, as it is as much a weapon as his handballs are.

If he starts to increase his kicking output, he will go to another level ?

Has already appeared to have done this and has again reached another level.

I only saw bits and pieces of Tulip, but Clarrie is outstanding and has been from game 1.

I’ve always said he needs to kick more, on the weekend we saw why. Freak

3 hours ago, Demon Disciple said:

Robbie was courageous, a 2-way runner, quick, could run all day, and had phenomenal skills. He'd be the best player in any of our teams since 1965 onwards.

Heck, he'd give RDB a run for his money as our best during our golden era.

Wikipedia:

In Ken Piesse's The Complete Guide to Australian Football, Flower's player summary quotes Brent Crosswell "...beat Flower and you could just about retire from League Football because anything else smacked of anti-climax.

5 hours ago, Petraccattack said:

Top 5 most gifted MFC footballers post 1980

1. Clayton Oliver

2. Robbie Flower

3. David Schwarz

4. Allen Jakovich

5. Garry Lyon

 

Debate me.

All above a tick , if we're talking gifted as opposed to absolute fulfillment one Travis Johnstone had that gift too.  Pity it was never fully realised.

42 minutes ago, monoccular said:

Has already appeared to have done this and has again reached another level.

I only saw bits and pieces of Tulip, but Clarrie is outstanding and has been from game 1.

Robert Flower was the best player I've ever seen play 4 us. Better than Swhartz, Farmer, Lyon, Wells, Hardeman, Jakovich....... Oliver is special but Robbie could do it all. He could take a speccy, sell a dummy or a blind turn & kick goals. He was the best wingman ever.