Grapeviney

It's a different game and goal, but there's one ripper which was obviously a contender for goal of the week or year which is in the existing Youtube and AFL tribute videos. It's the one against Richmond, where Robbie sharks the ball out of the centre, taps it again to himself over an opponent's head, and then slots it from what must be about 50m or even further out. It's at 1.50 in this video: http://www.afl.com.au/video/2014-10-03/remembering-robert-flower NicNat did a similar thing out of the ruck in Perth a couple of years but only kicked a point, not that it stopped commentators from frothing at the mouth about how it was the point of the century.

Frawley too. Call it a case of premature evacuation

Some more highlights - and much better quality - in this tribute vid on the AFL website: http://www.afl.com.au/video/2014-10-03/remembering-robert-flower

C + B: You better cool your heels - that comment is not acceptable under any circumstances, not for any player, poster, anyone. I've edited it out of your post and all subsequent ones that refer to it.

I find it strange that people can accept that Roos (and Jackson) are vital cogs in the machinery now, but won't be in 2 years time. Another way of putting it is that I've got early onset of the MFCSS which many on here will be suffering in the summer of 2016/2017.

I've started similar threads C + B and then consigned them to the dustbin for reasons I cannot adequately explain. I guess part of it is that I'd rather Roos for 3 years than no Roos at all, and the limited tenure was basically the clause that got him over the line in the end. It irks me that 17 other clubs all have the same goal, whether it's explicit or implicit, and that is to win the flag. Our mission is to be competitive, and, from there, for Roos and PJ to hand over to others to complete the journey. My main worry is how it manifests in the minds of our players. Camaraderie and culture are cultivated when everyone's on the same page and working to the same outcome. What happens to a team when its leader has already signalled he'll be jumping off at the next station?

I'm going to do the same over the weekend. The Ron Reed introduction is truly a fantastic piece of sports writing - captures the drama of '87 superbly and the enormous emotional dividend which ultimately repaid Robbie's loyalty to the red + blue.

Stoked that this poem is still in circulation. Virtually knew it by heart as a teenager. Thanks for posting - I spent about an hour looking for it last night to no avail.

Very nice piece here by Mike Sheahan, who says Flower was his all-time favourite player. http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/you-were-a-great-human-being-tulip/story-fni0fiyv-1227078327629

Was blessed to see the second half of his career, and like others, wore the number 2 on my jumper, and made the pilgrimage out to his sports store to see him on more than one occasion. The thrill of meeting my boyhood hero never waned over the years - will never a forget an MFC players day at Luna Park in the early 80's when I got to ride with him on the ghost train. Kicked so many great goals, took so many wonderful marks, but my favourite footage of him is running, bouncing and baulking his way down the ground. I used to love watching state games - as WJ said, he never failed to fire wearing the big V. They say the great players stand up in finals; Robbie booted 5 against North, 4 against Sydney, and was only stopped by the Hawks when Dipper flattened him in the Prelim. RIP and condolences to his family and friends.

There once was a player named Frawley Who this year treated the club quite poorly Refused to have a crack Forward or back In loyalty he was lacking quite sorely

Love it Bush Demon, great score. There was some great footage of RDB coaching which I'd never seen before during that show "The Chosen Few" about coaches which ch.7 screened the night before the GF. "I want you to do it my way. And my way is handball. Handball handball handball handball. If it doesn't come off, then you can blame me, but right now it's your fault."

Best mate was at the new Levi's stadium for the 49ers - Eagles game over the weekend. From the video he sent it looked like he had seats slap bang in the middle at ground level. He's a San Fran man too so he was a very happy chappy.

Just to clarify - what you're really doing is completely walking away from the unfounded rumour you spread last night...

Love the line about the Dangerfield deal involving "9 AFL teams, 2 WAFL teams and most of the SANFL". ) Titus is more than adequately filling the hole left left by the retirement of the White Maggot.

Hawthorn haven't won a hat-trick yet either. There's only ever been five in football history, and two of them are ours.

Spot on. Hawthorn played 7 straight GFs in a row in the 80's - three of them consecutively against Essendon - and the Lions won 3-in-a-row in the 00's etc etc. Footy history is littered with periods of sustained success, including our own history. As for the OP, I spent the entire last half imagining just how good it would feel to have a premiership all sewn up in the 3rd, to have the chance to celebrate every second of the last 45 minutes of the game. Can only dream.

Saying that it will boil down to Frankston assumes that no other seats will change hands, which I think is doubtful (unless of course there's an even spread of wins/losses in other electorates). I reckon it was a tactical mistake for Labor to change it's mind on the East-West Link (for the umpteenth time). Apart from the flip-flop aspect, which never looks good, it will just annoy the tens of thousands of people who are sitting in traffic jams each day. Technically, the argument is sound (subjecting the tender docs to greater scrutiny) but the politics is terrible. I'm expecting the Government to pick up three or four seats at this stage, Frankston notwithstanding.

Yeh I was talking about today. I didn't say he'd made a big contribution )

His greatest contribution to the club has been his surname, which today made it easy for the headline writers rhyming Blease with Dees...

Injury-interrupted pre-season and another setback during the year, at a time when he was named emergency and potentially on the brink of senior selection. Unlucky methinks.

The Nureyev blind turn against the Bulldogs is probably my favourite all-time footy moment. If you watch the replay, you can hear the crowd gasp in collective awe. One small correction though: the handpass to Lovett in the square was against the Dogs, not the Blues

Anyone wanting to post rumour and innuendo is risking a holiday from the site. That includes not-so-subtle wordplay.