The Brilliance of Robbie Flower

[mdemon 266]

Grace, courage, artistry, evasiveness - what wonderful memories he generated for the red & blue faithful.

Whether it be the jinking runs that mesmerized and befuddled opponents or the long & direct handballs to a teammate with time & space - simply unique

[Rodney (Balls) Grinter 10,826]

21 hours ago, Fork 'em said:

Nice clips boys but here's 16 minutes of brilliance.
 

Note he kicked 5goals in the elim including a trade mark hanger and another 4goals in the semi final before getting his collarbone busted in the prelim and then retiring.
If anyone should have been nursed to 300games it should have been this legend.

I know where you are coming from, but better that he went out on top of his game than limping over the line.

[radar 1,865]

Was fortunate enough to be at Kardinia Park for “the Templeton game”. 

Monday after, still wrapt, wandered into Robbie’s Knox City sports store. 

I wanted the onfield goss - how we did it - he wanted to know what the supporters were thinking. 

[Deemania since 56 6,639]

On 11/12/2019 at 6:05 PM, JakovichScissorKick said:

Deserved to play in much  better teams.    We were terrible his whole career.

Then he retires and we make the GF the very next season.

Best player of all time. I'd reckon, in this bunch: 1. Robbie Flower; 2. Leigh Matthews; 3. Malcolm Blight; 4. Gary Ablett, Snr; 5. Royce Hart.

[Dee Dee 1,108]

I was a young lad in the late 1950’s when Melbourne was the powerhouse team, Barassi, Dixon, Adams et.al. all household names, revered, respected or loathed depending on team allegiance. (And bye the bye if you supported Hawthorn back then, you were considered a joke, as was that team: things do change!)

However for all the legendary status of the above mentioned stars, Robert Flower is the Melbourne Football Club player I most admire. Why? Well as I said in a post above watching Flower was like watching a superbly gifted ballet dancer performing among clod hoppers, he had a flow to his movement unparalleled in the game. I’m glad I saw him.

In 20, 30 years time kids of today will speak reverently of Max Gawn and (maybe) Clayton Oliver recalling their (possibly enhanced) super human efforts on the field but they will recall the feats of those players while maybe hanging out with their mates on the Robert Flower terrace at the MCG. He lives on! 

[AllMyTeamsAreWank 564]

I see many people comparing Baily Fritsch to Robbie. I never had the pleasure of watching Robbie play, but I'm struggling to see the similarities based on the highlights posted. They seem to be very different players. Can anyone shed some light?

[deesrule 104]

8 minutes ago, AllMyTeamsAreWank said:

I see many people comparing Baily Fritsch to Robbie. I never had the pleasure of watching Robbie play, but I'm struggling to see the similarities based on the highlights posted. They seem to be very different players. Can anyone shed some light?

First time I saw Fritsch play  I thought of Robbie skinny , a good kick and mark, probably hasn’t got the evasive skills of Flower but who has

Robbie was a gentleman on and off the field and always had time for a  chat with a fan ,in fact would chew your ear off in his sports shop if you asked a question about the dees

[Demonland 72,193]

 

[Whispering_Jack 30,145]

I’ve tried to find one particular clip of Robbie at Windy Hill one day when he took the ball from the back pocket, linking up with teammates through great running and passing all the way down the wing and ending in a spectacular goal. It was shown on the following morning on the World of Sport panel and was the best goal I’ve ever seen.

Unfortunately, we were a pretty ordinary side in those days and often given little time in the media. I’m assuming the footage has been lost. Pity.