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I think Norm Smith was more responsible for that era - and was probably undervalued as a player. 

directly involved in all but 2 of our premierships. 

without him our history would look more like st Kildas. 

Hard not to pick Robbie Flower. 

We have had some greats, when in form.

1. Flower

2. The Ox

3. Hardeman

 

Norm Smith & RDB up to 1964 and David Neitz post ‘64.!!!!!!


Reckon he is spot on with RDB with Robbie close up his backside.

These things are always subjective and relative to particular eras but in my time following the club it's clearly Robert Flower. 

 

How about Allan La Fontaine or Jack Mueller from the glorious 1939,1940, 1941 premiership side.


I saw RDB play a fair bit of footy first with us then with Carlton who were very often televised in the mid to late 60s, then at Port Melbourne.

He was my favorite player as a kid and because I really didn't understand the reasons he left MFC until much later, it hurt to see him play at other clubs.

Much as I wanted to have his endeavour and spirit and attitude (and a little did rub off), as a footballer he was not quite in the talent class of Darly Bulldock, Kevin Murray or Ted Whitten his peers of the day. RDB was guts and determination and he pushed himself to his limits.

As a player who was able to read the play to find the ball, miraculously create time where no time for decision making existed and then to CONSISTENTLY execute the required skill, by hand or foot, in my view Robert Flower was without peer. His slim physique should have been an impairment to his durability as a player, but it wasn't. Rob could carry injury and fans were often not aware of it, such was his graceful ability and timing to get the ball and avoid being tackled by the opposition.

There are plenty of other players who had a bigger impact for us, but they played in a different time or could not last the journey of a full career. Rob played when we were rubbish.

He was the only reason I went to the G for a decade to see us get flogged. In his interview with Mike Sheahan he said he always felt we had a chance, that was hard for me to understand as a spectator but easy for me to understand as an observer of a player who lived and breathed red & blue. He could see nothing else but the spirit that was the club at that time, knocking back money and finals to be true to himself and his club mates.

May he rest in peace and from a good place,  soon see his club finally secure his football life's dream.

 

 

 

 

11 minutes ago, Hot as Hell said:

Darly Bulldock

I don't care if it's intentional or not, that's a hilarious misspelling!

3 hours ago, Demonland said:

Do you agree with Plough?

Who is the best ever player at your club?

Terry Wallace selects his number 1s | https://t.co/IQhOuz9OBY

Melbourne club banner

Ron Barassi

“I had Barassi and Robbie Flower. 

“I just think that everything Barassi was created a powerful and successful era for the Melbourne Football Club.”

Only because Kosi hasn’t played yet.

These lists tend to get pretty warped but with Plough being a boyhood Melbourne fan you could do a lot worse. 


Can’t go Past RDB and Robbie

Frank “bluey” Adams, Stuie Spencer and Tiger Ridley close behind

honourable mention to Brian Dixon 

Allen Jakovich could have been our greatest, but his back was suspect before he came to us

Two Brownlows don't get Ivor Warne-Smith a mention? It's the cult of recency.

Just now, Demonised said:

Two Brownlows don't get Ivor Warne-Smith a mention? It's the cult of recency.

Ivor Warne-Smith was a door at the entrance of the old MCC. 

An excellent meeting point i used for years. 
“see you at Ivor at Half Time....”

his Playing career was a few decades before me and i am not young anymore....

Pound for Pound  Robbie Flower.  He was just a marvel. I always gave us a chance when he was playing and not injured in our dark days.

RDB  helped to give us a successful era on and off the field a legend way ahead of his time.

I would have loved to have seen Jack Mueller play 4 premiershis and 3 b&f's lost 2 fingers in a timber accident early in his career.

Up there with the best of them.

Stan Alves.Would dominate his wing but also bring half the side into the game at the same time .We didn't have many victories during his time but he was so responsible so often in setting up those wins .


4 hours ago, Demonised said:

Two Brownlows don't get Ivor Warne-Smith a mention? It's the cult of recency.

I've not heard of that cult before. Is it new?

11 hours ago, Hot as Hell said:

I saw RDB play a fair bit of footy first with us then with Carlton who were very often televised in the mid to late 60s, then at Port Melbourne.

He was my favorite player as a kid and because I really didn't understand the reasons he left MFC until much later, it hurt to see him play at other clubs.

Much as I wanted to have his endeavour and spirit and attitude (and a little did rub off), as a footballer he was not quite in the talent class of Darly Bulldock, Kevin Murray or Ted Whitten his peers of the day. RDB was guts and determination and he pushed himself to his limits.

As a player who was able to read the play to find the ball, miraculously create time where no time for decision making existed and then to CONSISTENTLY execute the required skill, by hand or foot, in my view Robert Flower was without peer. His slim physique should have been an impairment to his durability as a player, but it wasn't. Rob could carry injury and fans were often not aware of it, such was his graceful ability and timing to get the ball and avoid being tackled by the opposition.

There are plenty of other players who had a bigger impact for us, but they played in a different time or could not last the journey of a full career. Rob played when we were rubbish.

He was the only reason I went to the G for a decade to see us get flogged. In his interview with Mike Sheahan he said he always felt we had a chance, that was hard for me to understand as a spectator but easy for me to understand as an observer of a player who lived and breathed red & blue. He could see nothing else but the spirit that was the club at that time, knocking back money and finals to be true to himself and his club mates.

May he rest in peace and from a good place,  soon see his club finally secure his football life's dream.

 

 

 

 

Top post, Hot.

 
20 hours ago, daisycutter said:

no love for juice newton?

where's fence when you need him?

That MOTY in 2007 should have been enough.... Surely!!!!??

17 hours ago, kallangurdemon said:

Stan Alves.Would dominate his wing but also bring half the side into the game at the same time .We didn't have many victories during his time but he was so responsible so often in setting up those wins .

Such a pleasing rap for Stanley the Alves. He may not have actually been one of our echelon 'greatest' but by hell, he was a fantastic footballer, a fantastic wingman, a great Captain, a beautiful kick and 'on-the-run' disposer of the ball, a speedster, too. He had the best baulk and blind turn routines one could ever see (and has ever seen - absolutely impeccable) and knew better than most what it took to kick a goal from a long way out. Even Bartlett got a few from the Southern Stand wing - and these were commendable: Stan got all of them, everytime. I always hoped that he would coach the Dees ... his stint at the Saints as coach was marred by a very sick club and limited talent within the footy department/majority of players. Stan, to me, remains a playmaking icon of our Club and certainly, one of the great characters of our Club.


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