Australian Football

In a sport where toughness is a pre-requisite Bob Flanigan took the quality to rare heights. Over the course of his career he sustained countless injuries including a fractured skull. Normally deployed across half back he was almost reckless in his attack on ball and opponent. He commenced with Footscray in 1936 and over the course of a five season stint he played 49 VFL games and scored one goal. The 1941 season found him at Essendon where he played 42 games and kicked one goal in 1941-2 and 1944-5. As if the proliferation of injuries was not bad enough, Flanigan missed the whole 1943 season with illness. There were positives though, not least his superb performance in the 1942 grand final which saw the Dons account for Richmond by 53 points, 19.18 to 11.13. The triumph helped atone for the previous year’s flag decider in which Essendon had gone down to Melbourne.

Author - John Devaney