Slartibartfast

It's a subjective thread because it depends how you rate players!! I really tried to hate Buckley. I went to the footy one night with a Collingwood mate (yeh, I know) telling him Buckley never got the hard ball. We counted 12 hard ball gets from Nathan that night. I really admire the guy. And contrary to popular opinion, I reckon he's a very very good captain.

Thanks Jack, I knew we won 2 but thought the second one was in 1988. I remember Brett Bailey standing under the ball while Gary Ablett came charging in from behind. It reminds me of the brave Tony Lockett as he nearly killed Shaun Smith many years later. I've watched a bit from that era in the last few weeks. The Melbourne team of 1987 and 1988 played with passion and courage.

You need to look at the record books Tony. Brett Bailey will be disappointed you don't remember his efforts in 1988.

It's an interesting thing trying to compare Robbie to anyone. Personally, I think the best "fit" to any player today is James Hird. Similar build, Flower was quicker in his prime, opponents just couldn't touch him. Robbie wasn't as "inside" as Hird is now, but the game has changed a lot. He played in an era when players tended to be "one position". But he played CHF for Vic against WA one year. Beat Glendinning pointless, and Ross was a fantastic player. Robbie was a once in a lifetime player for me. He was 100% skill. He was the reason that the Dippers existed. You couldn't beat him, you had to neutralise him. He's the reason I hate thugs on the field. For all we can admire the bravery of Archer, the determination of Kirk, we go to the footy to see the skill of Flower. Make no mistake. He was, in his own way, the equal of any footballer I've seen since 1960. He just did things nobody else did. And he did it regularly.