MELBOURNE great Steven Smith says Robert Flower was an absolute “freak” of a player, yet one of the most humble people he had ever met.

Smith, who played 203 matches for the Demons from 1974-85 and won the club’s best and fairest in 1981, said Flower was a unique talent.

“He was just a freak of a bloke … he had freakish talents,” he told Dee TV.

“He’s No.1 in my mind. 

“Robbie was just different and he was very special … Robbie was the pin-up and members came to watch him play.”

Smith said the loss of his former teammate – he played his entire career with Flower – was difficult to comprehend.

“I’m actually really struggling. I’m not a teary bloke … but it’s really very emotional,” he said.

“He was the most self-effacing guy I’ve ever come across.

“He was uncomfortable with all of the attention he used to get, because he was a superstar and made things look so easy, but he was really uncomfortable and he’d always try and deflect it with his one-liners.

“He just didn’t want to be the centre of attention and he was such a gentleman and that was the nature of the bloke.”