He’s one of the Club’s favourite sons, a story that spans four decades and continues to this day. We look back at just a few of the Robert Flower moments and images that are part of the Melbourne Football Club.
Dream come true – Robert Flower was – and is - a Melbourne supporter, who played for Melbourne, and is highly regarded to this day. He was still at school when he made his senior debut, a skinny kid with glasses who thought it was all ‘surreal, unbelievable to be realising a dream.’ With that first game against Geelong at the MCG in Round 10, 1973 – a win, Flower kicked a goal – he was on the way to seeing the dream come to fruition.
Promotions Officer – Working at the Club from 1975 to the end of the decade, Flower still occupies a central place within it to this day. Of his early complementary role, Flower says, ‘I didn’t expect this – it was a great example of the Club looking after a younger player, and it was a good way to combine work and play!’
Keeping his feet – What is truly remarkable is that Flower often plied his trade of agility and elusiveness on muddy, slippery grounds that would not pass any test of the modern era – and as he says with a certain wistful note, ‘If only grounds then were like they are today....’
Ball on a string – In 99 per cent of the photos of his career, Flower appears poised, caught in a moment in time as the football spins in his grasp and he moves, feet barely touching the ground. ‘Skills took a lot of work’, says Flower seriously, harking back to his early years. ‘When I was at school, every night we’d practice in the backyard. I’d have a two on one session against my brother and a mate.’ It was obviously a habit that paid dividends in later years.
The successful guernsey - While injuries to Flower – along with teammate Brian Wilson – ultimately helped to spell the demise of the laceup guernsey, Flower has no regrets on that front. ‘I’m glad the laceup went. It caused me a regrettable injury – I broke my finger.’ Looking at his much loved Melbourne guernsey, Flower reflects on the changes that aligned with his time in the game. ‘I started my career in navy blue, and the middle part was spent in royal blue. Then, I finished in navy blue in 1987, and it was almost like as soon as we changed back to navy blue, we started a new era of success.’ Flower in his No. 2, playing finals in his last three games, was a huge part of generating this resurgence.
Signing away – The Flower autograph is one of the most distinctive in the business, made all the more so by Flower’s lefthandedness. ‘It’s always a joy to sign autographs’, he says. How many would he have signed over the years? ‘Thousands!’ he says happily. This is just one to treasure.
The honours list – With this Team of the Century inclusion just one of the many honours to recognise Flower’s contribution to the Melbourne Football Club and the game at large, Flower sees his biggest honour as being somewhat more integral to his overall career. ‘It’s most satisfying to be a one club player. I love the Melbourne Football Club.’
