Robert Flower facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Robert Flower |
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| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Robert Alan Flower | ||
| Nickname(s) | Tulip | ||
| Date of birth | 5 August 1955 | ||
| Place of birth | Melbourne | ||
| Date of death | 2 October 2014 (aged 59) | ||
| Original team | Murrumbeena | ||
| Career highlights | |||
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Robert Alan Flower (born August 5, 1955 – died October 2, 2014) was a famous Australian rules football player. He played for the Melbourne Football Club for his entire career. His first game was in 1973 against Geelong. He became the team captain in 1981 and led them until his last game in 1987. Robert held the record for playing the most games for his club, with 272 games, until David Neitz broke it in 2006.
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Robert Flower's Football Journey
Robert Flower was known by his nickname, "Tulip." He was a fantastic wingman for most of his career. He was famous for his amazing ability to find open space on the field. He could kick and handpass the ball with incredible accuracy. Robert was also very fast and had a great understanding of the game.
Many people thought Robert Flower was one of the best players ever. Ian Ridley, a football expert, once said that Robert Flower was the greatest footballer he had ever seen. This was because of his balance, skill, marking, kicking, and handballing.
Some people worried about Robert because he was quite thin, weighing only 68 kilograms. They thought he might not be strong enough to succeed in the tough world of professional football. But Robert proved them wrong! Even though he missed 52 games due to injuries, he still played 272 games. He was never left out of the team if he was healthy enough to play.
Playing in the Finals
Robert Flower played for 14 seasons without ever getting to play in a final game. Finals are the exciting playoff games at the end of the season. Towards the end of the 1986 season, the Melbourne Football Club even asked fans for donations. They wanted to raise money to get new players to help Robert finally play in a final.
Even though they didn't raise as much money as hoped, Melbourne did make it to the 1987 finals. This was a very exciting time for Robert and the team.
His last three games were the only times Robert Flower played in the finals. His very last game was a preliminary final against Hawthorn. Melbourne had been winning the whole game. But then, a penalty was given to Hawthorn right after the final siren. A Hawthorn player named Gary Buckenara kicked the winning goal. Robert was very upset. He later wrote in his book that he threw a drink against the wall in anger. He was also injured in that game, so it was not certain he could have played in the Grand Final if Melbourne had won.
Life After Football
After he stopped playing, Robert Flower continued to be a big part of Australian rules football. In 1996, he was added to the Australian Football Hall of Fame. This is a special honor for the best players in the sport's history. He was also chosen to be on the wing in Melbourne's Team of the Century. This means he was considered one of the best players in the club's entire history.
Robert also served on the Melbourne Football Club's board of directors for a while. He stepped down in 2004 due to health issues.
Robert's Family Life
Robert Flower had a younger brother named Tom Flower. Tom also played football for Melbourne for three seasons in the late 1970s. Robert's son, Brad, was also a talented football player. People thought he might follow in his father's footsteps and play in the AFL, but he was not chosen by a team.
Robert Flower passed away on October 2, 2014, after a short illness.
Books About Robert Flower
- Robbie by Robert Flower with Ron Reed (1987).
- Ken Piesse The Complete Guide to Australian Football (1995).
- Main, J. & Holmesby, R. Encyclopedia of AFL Football Players (2005).
