FLANIGAN, Bob

Bob Flanigan was regarded as one of the toughest players of his time earning him the nickname "Bluestone". Despite this, he won 14 Brownlow Medal votes in his 42 games.

He was a left-footer, and while not big, he played the game with plenty of heart and consequently suffered more than his share of injuries.

Flanigan arrived at Essendon from Footscray where he had played 49 games between 1936 and 1940. While there he suffered a fractured skull but even that didn't stop him from continuing to play.

Flanigan made his Essendon debut in Round 1, 1941, and played 11 games that year, including the losing Grand Final. He played every game in the 1942 season, the only year he didn’t miss a game, and capped off the year by being one of the best players in Essendon's 1942 premiership win over Richmond.

He didn't play at all in 1943 but returned to play 10 games and three games respectively in his last two seasons at Windy Hill.

His brother, Jack, played five games with Hawthorn in 1930.

Bob Flanigan died on 12th July, 1988.