Robert, Robbie, Bob – the late, great Robert Flower went by many names across his life.
Three of his greatest mates – brother Tommy Flower, former teammate Todd Viney, and ex-player Bernie Quinlan spoke to Mike Sheehan in the first episode of the Legacy Series.
They recalled the hidden side of the Melbourne legend, their mate they called ‘Tulip’.
Former captain Viney played his first season with Flower, who led the side in his final year in 1987.
“The moment I met Robbie Flower…I wanted to play with him, such was the respect I had for him,” Viney recalled.
“We became great mates very quickly, and to play with him was a highlight.”
Viney fondly remembered the side of Tulip that the fans wouldn’t have seen.
“He was a practical joker, always had a look on his face like he was an eighteen-year-old boy,” Viney said.
“I was running out for my first game for Melbourne, and I was behind him as the captain. He asked me, ‘How are you going, are you nervous?’ I said, ‘I’m bloody nervous’. He said, ‘You look nervous, you’ve got your shorts on back to front!’”
Quinlan played for Footscray and Fitzroy between 1969 and 1986, and recalled playing on Flower as opposition and then alongside him in the International Rules representative side.
“Fortunately for me, I got to room with Robbie for the [International Rules] trip, so I got to get to know him,” Quinlan said.
“He had such an engaging personality; you loved being around him. He found fun all the time.
“When we went to a football function and he met new people, by the end of the night they were almost his best friends. He just engaged with everyone.”
Brother Tommy knew Robert best, having shared a bedroom with him growing up. He also played 26 games for Melbourne, between 1977 to 1979.
“I played all of my 26 games with Robbie, on the opposite wing,” Flower said.
“Robbie played 272 games for Melbourne, I would have watched 200 of them.”
Viney witnessed many club legends in his tenure as a player and administrator, but there was one player who stood out as his ultimate Demon.
“When I worked at the football club, we developed a program and I was designing what the Melbourne Person looked like.
“When we looked at what the key values and attributes they held, Robbie was who I had in mind.”
