Robbie Flower died last Thursday 2nd October. A genuine tragedy, (he had just turned 59), from complications of a heart condition.
He would probably be my most admired and respected non- Footscray player.
The AFL Tables website has some great statistics and here is the link to what they have about Robbie Flower
http://afltables.com...ert_Flower.html
Robbie’s era was 1973-1987. In that time with the exception of seasons 1974 and 1977, the two games between both clubs always ended in one win for Footscray and one win for Melbourne.
Here is the list
1973: Footscray lost to Melbourne @ Western Oval
1973: Melbourne lost to Footscray @ MCG
1974: Footscray defeated Melbourne @ Western Oval
1974: Melbourne lost to Footscray @ MCG
1975: Melbourne beat Footscray @ MCG
1975: Footscray beat Melbourne @ Western Oval
1976 Melbourne lost to Footscray @ MCG
1976 Footscray lost to Melbourne @ Western Oval
1977: Footscray beat Melbourne @ Western Oval
1977: Melbourne lost to Footscray @ MCG
1978: Melbourne beat Footscray @ MCG
1978: Footscray beat Melbourne @ MCG
1979: Melbourne v Footscray @ MCG
1979: Footscray v Melbourne @ Western Oval
1980: Melbourne beat Footscray @ MCG
1980: Footscray beat Melbourne @ MCG
1981: Footscray lost to Melbourne @ Western Oval
1981: Melbourne lost to Footscray @ VFL Park
1982: Melbourne v Footscray @ MCG
1982: Footscray lost to Melbourne @ VFL Park
1983: Footscray beat Melbourne @ Western Oval
1983: Melbourne beat Footscray @ MCG
1984: Footscray lost to Melbourne @ Waverley Park
1984: Melbourne lost to Footscray @ MCG
1985: Melbourne beat Footscray @ VFL Park
1985: Footscray beat Melbourne @ Western Oval
1986: Melbourne beat Footscray @ MCG
1986: Footscray beat Melbourne @ Western Oval
1987: Melbourne lost to Footscray @ MCG
1987: Footscray lost to Melbourne @ Western Oval
The games in italics were the ones that Robert Flower DID NOT participate in
So there were 30 games between the two clubs in that time frame of 1973 -1987. Robbie Flower missed on four of them. Three of the four were Melbourne defeats.
I remember watching him go off injured at Waverley in 1985 with a crook shoulder- it would be his last game for that season. Melbourne won that game, a come from behind win, though later in the year Footscray beat Melbourne by 120 points and Robbie Flower definitely didn’t play in that game.
Footscray at the Western Oval
Robbie had 3 wins at the Western Oval - 1976, 1981 and 1987. There was a strong breeze in the 1976 and 1981 games- favouring the Geelong Rd end in both of them. In 1976 Footscray wasted the breeze in the first quarter kicking 3.5.23 and our half time score had troubled the scorers by all of one point. This was the season where Footscray and Melbourne both fought for a finals position.
1981 is well remembered by Footscray fans and like 1976 Footscray’s score at quarter time was 3.5.23, but unlike 1976, we did score a few goals into the breeze. Yet despite a 23 point lead at the ¾ break and an early last quarter goal, Melbourne stormed home. With around a minute to go Robbie Flower took a “screamer” It really was a great mark. He put it through from around 35 metres out to give Melbourne a one point lead. Melbourne went back into their forward line from the restart, and then the siren went. This was to be Melbourne’s only win for the 1981 season, by 1 point. Ron Barassi in his first season as coach at Melbourne triumphing over a Footscray team being coached by stand in Frank Goode, the incumbent Royce Hart away with a health problem (appendicitis)
1987 was a form of revenge for Melbourne as they made the finals with a barn storming last quarter and they over ran us, though this time (unlike 1976 and 1981) Melbourne were kicking to the Barkly Street End in the last quarter. There were over 31,000 there that day, I would say it was the biggest away following I had ever seen at Footscray games at the Western Oval- the outer packed with Demon fans and they made a hell of a noise especially towards the end of the last quarter. There was a massive roar during this game which had nothing to do with what happened on the field in front of everyone- it was for a goal kicked miles away down the Geelong Road at Kardinia Park by Hawthorn’s Jason Dunstall which put Hawthorn in front and they held out against the cats which meant that Melbourne finished higher that Geelong and after a wait since Melbourne’s last finals campaign of 1964. So the demons qualified for the September action (unlike 1976) and Robbie Flower finally could play in finals.
So 1987 was Robbie’s best season, he played in some very tough times.
· Robbie only ever played in one win against Carlton- back in 1975 at Waverley.
So he never walked off Princes Park or the MCG having beaten Carlton
· Robbie played in just two victories over Hawthorn- both at Princes Park in 1984 and 1987.
So he never beat Hawthorn on the MCG
· Robbie never played in a drawn/tied game in his 14 years,
As for Melbourne and draws/ties, the demons perhaps unusually did not play in a draw/tie between these two fixtures
Round 18 Saturday July 31st 1971 @ Arden Street
North Melbourne 8.14.62
Melbourne 9.8.62
Round 7 Saturday May 2nd 1992 @ MCG
Melbourne 13.18.96
Sydney 13.18.96
Just back with to Hawthorn and Melbourne fixtures,
Melbourne lost every game against Hawthorn between these two fixtures
Round 2 Saturday April 14th 1973 @ Glenferrie Oval
Hawthorn 14.14.98
Melbourne 13.22.100
Round 13 Saturday June 23rd 1984 @Princes Park
Hawthorn 13.12.90
Melbourne 15.17.107
Robbie’s first season of 1973 was Hawthorn’s last year playing for Premiership points at Glenferrie Oval. He didn't play in that game, so it would be 1984 until he tasted victory over the hawks.
Robbie Flower was a champion, a one club man, playing for the team he supported as a child.
