I know it's a hackneyed phrase but Jim Stynes was one of the most genuinely good people you'll ever meet, especially in the sporting industry which has become more and more of a business over the last few years. It was his love of the game which brought him over from Ireland and enabled to stay on through the tough early days to become a Melbourne Football Club legend and one of the best ruckmen to play the game. He of course still holds the VFL/AFL record for the most consecutive games played (244) as well as being the first and only international player to have won the Brownlow Medal for the fairest and best player in the competition. He also won the AFL player most valuable player award as well as numerous best and fairests.
His on-field legacy is only exceeded by the legacy he leaves behind off the playing arena. Following his retirement in 1998 he became an anti-racism officer for the AFL, an issue of great importance to himself and of continuing importance to the AFL, as evidenced in the news in recent days. He also established The Reach Foundation, with the aim of helping all young people acquire the confidence and self-belief to they need to achieve their dreams.
He is most famous in recent years for his unwavering determination to save his beloved Melbourne Football Club, almost it seemed, to the detriment of his health. In 2008 when he was announced as the new chairman of the Demons, the club was quite literally on it's knees. the club was in enormous debt, attendances was falling, and rumours were circulating as to a possible Gold Coast relocation. Stynes inspired the "Debt Dee-molition" to help eradicate the clubs debt and boost revenue. He was also present at many Demons matches, often sitting with the cheer squad, all despite being diagnosed with cancer in numerous parts of his body, including his brain. Indeed he often appeared at games just days after one of his treatments looking frail and ill, but just as passionate as any other Demons die-hard. It was those inspirational actions which helped save the club and inspired other prominent Melbourne figures to reconnect with their former club to bring it to the position it is in today. It's a tragedy the Stynes will be unable to see the fruits of his labour.
It was Stynes unrelenting desire to put other people first which made him such a popular and loved figure, both in his on and off-field work for the Demons as well as through his charities and foundations. It was what has led to the vast numbers of tributes to his life both in Australia and overseas, of which this is but a poor example. As friend and former teammate Gary Lyon said you couldn't say no to Jimmy, as he would always help you out when you're in need.
I never met Jim Stynes, but I did have the fortune to meet both his father and younger brother David just last Sunday at an event aimed supporting harmony between different cultural groups, something Jim Stynes was a big supporter of. Although we didn't talk for very long, they were friendly, charming and had an extremely positive outlook on the world, much like Jim did. They obviously had no idea what was to occur less than 48 hours later. Such is the curse of a disease like cancer.
To quote Martin Flanagan, "Jim Stynes was the AFL's greatest story."
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