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Finals flashbacks
by PAUL DAFFEYHALFWAY through the 1987 season, when Melbourne champion Robbie Flower decided that a lower-back injury would finish his career after the Demons' last game, there was every chance that he would finish his playing days without a final. In round 22 of home-and-away rounds, there was still only a remote chance that one of the most admired footballers in the history of the game would play on the MCG in September. That Flower did play in the finals remains a classic of the football fairytale genre, albeit with a wicked twist, more of which to come. Going back to round 22, however, Melbourne needed to beat Footscray at the Western Oval and rely on Hawthorn defeating Geelong at Kardinia Park. The Demons trailed all day against Geelong before rallying in the final quarter to get up by 15 points. Hawthorn trailed all day against Geelong before Jason Dunstall kicked two goals in the dying minutes to give the Hawks victory by three points. After 23 years of missing out on the finals, the Demons were narrowly through. Flower said yesterday from Italy, where he's on holidays for a month with his wife and two daughters, that he admired two players more than any others during his 15-year career: North Melbourne wingman Wayne Schimmelbusch, whom he'd played on many time, and Carlton defender Bruce Doull. When Doull sent him a telegram congratulating him on reaching his first final, it was the highlight of his week. Flower felt a greater sense of expectation walking into the MCG for the 1987 elimination final against North Melbourne. "But once the ball was bounced, it was like any other game," he said. The expectation in the crowd skyrocketed when the 32-year-old captain, who was playing in his 270th game, wheeled on to his right foot and booted a long, running goal at the city end. The goal had all the hallmarks of his career: loping grace and a perfectly executed finish. Fans and Demons players sensed a momentous occasion. By three-quarter time, with Melbourne's young interstate brigade of Steven Stretch, Warren Dean and Earl Spalding running riot, the Demons led by 80 points. Flower exhorted his teammates to complete the rout, which it did. Flower himself had five goals and a series of spectacular marks to his name when coach John Northey took him off with five minutes to go. The roar from the members' stand as he jogged to the boundary line was like nothing he'd heard. "It was fantastic," he said. The Demons won by 118 points. Flower and the Demons rode the wave of emotion into their semi-final against Sydney the following week, winning by 76 points, with the captain kicking another four goals. It took until the second quarter of the preliminary final against Hawthorn, when Hawk Robert DiPierdomenico popped Flower's shoulder in a heavy clash, for the fairytale to begin to pall. Flower returned to the ground late in the last quarter after Brian Wilson had torn his hamstring. The captain was sent to stand in the goalsquare while the Demons maintained their lead until the siren. At least that was the plan. Flower realised the dream was falling apart when Jim Stynes ran across Gary Buckenara's mark and the Hawthorn forward was brought 15 metres closer to goal. If he kicked it, the Hawks were through to another grand final. At the time, Flower was standing beside his Hawthorn counterpart Michael Tuck, another long-time adversary. The two skippers shook hands and wished each other luck whatever happened. Then they separated and began walking off the ground. "I was just about at the race when Bucky kicked it," Flower said. "I continued on until I got inside and slumped in front of my locker." Despite the dramatic finish to the season and his career, Flower was still grateful that he had at least had the opportunity to play in finals. "I think it would have been hollow if I didn't," he said. After finishing his interview, Flower and his family were to pack the car and drive from Pisa to Siena to take in a few wineries. He said they would be home in Melbourne for the grand final. This story first appeared in The Age. 17 September 2006 |
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