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Fans, stars gather to mourn AFL legend Robbie Flower

13th October, 2014
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Melbourne great Robbie Flower was farewelled in an emotional celebration of the life of one of the AFL’s finest on Monday.

Club and league legends gathered for the service, with Ron Barassi, Bob Skilton, Garry Lyon and league chief Gillon McLachlan among more than 1000 people to show their respect for the precociously talented winger.

Flower was the sort of player, the sort of man, who inspired grown men to confess their admiration, with many contemporaries naming him their hero.

Close mates Bernie Quinlan and Mike Sheahan told old war stories to those gathered in the MCC Members Dining Hall, with Todd Viney and brother Tom Flower sharing their memories.

With a successful business career and proud family, the service showcased the many sides of Flower.

Primarily of course, there was Flower the footballer.

Arriving at the club in 1973, the 68kg 17-year-old worked his way through the Melbourne fourths to the seniors in time to make his debut against Geelong in round 10.

Viney said he needed to buy a ticket to enter the MCG, unable to convince an MCG gate steward he would be taking the field.

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He would never return to the reserves, playing 272 games for the Demons, including seven seasons as captain.

His on-field feats prompted Robert Murphy to dub Flower the ‘Patron Saint of skinny blokes’.

Flower’s final year in 1987 ended with his maiden finals campaign, painfully ended with a goal after the siren by Hawthorn’s Gary Buckenara in the preliminary final.

There was Flower the prankster too, with a wide repertoire including the fake policeman phone call.

He was particularly proud of pulling off a pretend robbery of his mate’s butchery with a starter’s gun.

The man known as Bob at home, Tulip to teammates and Robbie to fans was lauded most of all for his selflessness, humility and his common touch.

Brother Tom recalled Flower going the extra mile to support ill friends while suffering his own health troubles, and his later success building SEDA – an alternative educational route for disillusioned students.

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Outside, the MCG turf, the site of the great man’s finest work, was half dug up for re-laying, as if to mourn Flower.

During trade week, the strong turn-out and visible depth of relationships built over a 272-game one-club career felt particularly potent.

Musician friend Paul Kelly played his affecting ‘How to Make Gravy’ to finish, ensuring any dry eyes remaining in the crowd were few.

Flower died aged 59 on October 2.

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