33 minutes ago, Fork 'em said:

 

Ahh ... No I didn't.
I asked for marks and bags.
And forget the uncontested marks Pendlebury might accumulate.
Let's not forget Flower played 150games less.

All good @Fork 'em. Go dees. That's ultimately all that counts. And I'm sure we are both grateful we saw the great man's career.

Edited Friday at 08:014 days by Queanbeyan Demon

8 hours ago, Bay131973 said:

I am intrigued to read that Robbie went into business with Arnold Briedis. Arnold went to Lalor High School, where I was teaching at the time. While he was 18 years old, in Grade 12, Arnold played at centre half forward for North and kicked 5 goals in the Grand Final. Arnold had a magnificent physique, and was an all-round nice bloke. At the end of the year some of the teachers went up to the Epping pub for a counterlunch and Arnold was behind the bar pulling beers. His teachers came in, and he was really shy. A bit like Robbie, maybe, it occurs to me. At the time it was incomprehensible that a superstar like him should be so humble, and treat scruffy schoolteachers with such deference.

Life intends us to come to humility, I think, and these guys had it from the beginning. Their achievements on the football field made no difference to their self-image - like a game of football was just a puzzle or a challenge that they tackled, and only ever partially satisfied. Robbie always said he felt he was overpaid for what he did.

So, I wonder at the connection, and the conversations, that led Robbie and Arnold to end up in partnership.

Barassi coached both of them eventually. They'd have compared notes on that. But then life continued to work on Ron too - in his later years he was much milder. After the St Kilda nightclub incident he clearly became less assertive - age mellowing him perhaps; or illness. My son got me a soft-spoken birthday greeting from an elderly former Mr Football. My daughter was working at a function Ron was at, not long before he died, and as he worked his way through the people mobbing him she saw he'd dropped his wallet. "Mr Barassi, I think this is yours?" she said, and she told me he had tears in his eyes and the gentlest voice as he thanked her and gave her a hug. Time tries to bring us to where we ought to be; some people are there from the start.

Arrogance wins, in the AFL, and power. But for people who see things in other terms, for them people like Robbie Flower are the true gentlemen of the world - showing the way, right through the middle of the Maynards and Cornes' and the harmlessly thick BT's. People like Robbie Flower elevate sport to absolute heroism.

It is said that off field, Robbie was a practical joker. Reminds me, the Dalai Lama said one of the most spiritual things you can do is kidding around. As people, focused on relationships not self, on task not achievement, some reach higher and inspire more than any of the simply clever and gifted but self-glorying ever can or will. And when they are gone, what's remembered goes on inspiring and shining the way forward.

Robbie was as good as it gets, on every level.

A tear just went down my face thanks❣️

I once went to a B&F and I was desperate to get a photo with Barassi - my dad grabbed me and instead I got a photo with Robbie. I didn’t appreciate it until I went home and watched some videos of him… he was pure class. My dad said he would just go to the footy to watch him.

One video was of him on a footy show hand balling - did as well on his left as his right. I loved how he floated across the packs for marks, and his ability to run and split the middle.

Ps, I managed to get a photo with both!

On 17/09/2025 at 21:34, rjay said:

Seriously, brings me to tears every time I see those highlights...

The greatest Demon.

You and me both.

Yes the greatest Demon.

12 minutes ago, TheWiz said:

I once went to a B&F and I was desperate to get a photo with Barassi - my dad grabbed me and instead I got a photo with Robbie. I didn’t appreciate it until I went home and watched some videos of him… he was pure class. My dad said he would just go to the footy to watch him.

One video was of him on a footy show hand balling - did as well on his left as his right. I loved how he floated across the packs for marks, and his ability to run and split the middle.

Ps, I managed to get a photo with both!

He was actually left handed and kicked right foot, though he was simply brilliant both sides of his body.

Not much more to add than what has already been posted. But I have to add a memory.

On two other threads in the past I have mentioned the sound of 70,000 Dees fans yelling "Robbie" in Robbie's first final in 1987, as he ran onto the ground for the first time. Even now, so many years later, the hair on my neck stands up as I recall it.

Channel 7 are much to blame for showing little of his early games. And it also really annoys me that Keith Greig got 2 Brownlow medals, yet Robbie was the better wingman. Don't get me wrong, Greig was a great player, but even he didn't move like Robbie Flower.

I grew up in Geelong so I saw Robbie once a year, trouncing Michael Turner and frustrating the Cats' crowd.

He was magic.

On 19/09/2025 at 18:43, Redleg said:

He was actually left handed and kicked right foot, though he was simply brilliant both sides of his body.

That left handed bounce on the run ought to be trademarked...

I was born 1963 and grew up in the 70's with Robbie's #2 on the back of my jumper.

The Dees did have some good, even great players during that time (I'm thinking of Wells, Hardeman, et al) but none really came close to Robbie Flower.

RIP great man.

On 17/09/2025 at 21:55, Bitter but optimistic said:

Robbie was a skinny bloke who played in an era of thuggery and king hits.

Yet somehow .... he played a game that was both cerebral and aesthetic .

Good point.

It's incredible he survived.

A lot of the the time top fast to catch bit he wasn't a solid bloke.

I created a thread of fasted Demons and I really should have included him.

I know he's unique but it looked like he had a bit of Fritta and Langdon in him.

1 hour ago, Frosticles said:

I was born 1963 and grew up in the 70's with Robbie's #2 on the back of my jumper.

The Dees did have some good, even great players during that time (I'm thinking of Wells, Hardeman, et al) but none really came close to Robbie Flower.

RIP great m

Your not alone cold stones.

Plenty of duffle coats about that time with number 2 on them.

Ah the old duffle....height of fashion but good d for what afflicts you.

10 hours ago, Red and Bluebeard said:

That left handed bounce on the run ought to be trademarked...

Ahh.. but when he propped pivoted and proceeded to then bounce with other hand you "understood" ... there....was 'greatness' .

Must have played with opponents heads 😆

I know I'm not alone... but the sheer spectacle of watching Robbie was enough to bring a smile to one's face.

Was lucky enough to know Robbie for a short time through his involvement in SEDA. He gave me this in 2009 for my 40th birthday. I recall telling him I wore his number as a kid on my MFC jumper back in the late 70's, early 80's. The most humble champion I ever met.

On 17/09/2025 at 20:16, Dee Boys said:

I also missed him by a decade or so but sounds like an amazing footballer and human being.

Everyone says we were almost a one man team during his career. How on earth did he only win one BnF?

Great question, unfortunately Robbie had plenty of injuries in his career, otherwise he would have won alot more - from memory in the 80s he finished 3rd in a Brownlow having missed 6 games!

My favourite football memory (and I don't think a flag at the G will beat it!) was being at the Western Oval in 1987 as a 12 year old and bursting into happy tears as I ran back off the ground and heard the roar of the crowd confirming that Hawthorn had pipped Geelong enabling us to make the finals for the first time in 23 years, and first time for Robbie in his final year. There were 31,000 packed in to watch the Demons come from 4 goals down in the 3rd quarter and win by 15 points. It was incredible, and so brilliant the next couple of weeks to watch Robbie play so well in finals. I think it's a big reason why I just can't fathom Zach Merrett wanting to leave - if and when Essendon make finals and win one, it will be a far more satisfying achievement for him than going to Hawthorn and winning at an already successful team. Look at David Swallow a couple of weeks ago - yes, he didnt win a flag but his legacy of playing in the Suns first ever final and kicking the winning score will be his greatest football memory. He did all the hard yards and got his reward.

1 hour ago, Swooper1987 said:

Was lucky enough to know Robbie for a short time through his involvement in SEDA. He gave me this in 2009 for my 40th birthday. I recall telling him I wore his number as a kid on my MFC jumper back in the late 70's, early 80's. The most humble champion I ever met.

Straight to the Pool Room !!!