When the Irish Experiment was conceived at the Melbourne Football Club in the early 1980s, Gaelic Football was seen as more like Australian Rules than soccer, rugby or gridiron. The experiment was very positive, especially for Jim Stynes (1966-2012) who was born into a large Dublin family. Jim attended Ballyroan Boys School and as an 8-year-old started competition football. He and his two brothers attended De La Salle in Churchtown, a school that favoured rugby over Gaelic football. So Jim played rugby for his school and Gaelic football for his local club.
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Jim Stynes statue
in the Avenue of Legends, outside the MCG
Jim Stynes
champion ruckman in Melbourne colours, 1997
ABC News
Jim was inspired by a 1980 AFL* film, The Club. A few years later, Stynes responded to a local ad for the Melbourne Football Club that offered full scholarships to play football and study here. Stynes had to impress Melbourne coaches at an Irish training camp seeking Gaelic footballers, taller than 183cm, with the skills to become elite Australian footballers. Stynes was an Irish Experiment success!!
Did the family approve of young Jim’s decision? He moved to Australia in Nov and his debut was in Melbourne’s Under 19s team, struggling a bit. He might have been a lonely teen having some trouble adapting, but he persevered! Debuting in the AFL* in 1987, he played a record of 244 consecutive games between 1987-98. Young Stynes apparently changed the way that the rucking role was played, and within a couple of years, his ability to run and easily win possessions was noted. One year he amassed an average of 26 possessions per match, great for a big player!!
In 1990 Stynes was named Melbourne’s vice-captain. He also played for Ireland against Australia in the International Rules series. Even better he won the Brownlow Medal in 1991, for being the fairest and best AFL footballer of the year across Australia.
How did an injured footballer not miss ANY games? In 1993 Jim should have missed 6 weeks with a compound rib fracture, yet he played on! But to keep on playing, Stynes endured a rigorous fitness test where tough Demon trainers ran into him during a 20-minute training session; the epitome of mental toughness as well. The next year he sustained a medial ligament tear, but again played on.
Did the family approve of young Jim’s decision? He moved to Australia in Nov and his debut was in Melbourne’s Under 19s team, struggling a bit. He might have been a lonely teen having some trouble adapting, but he persevered! Debuting in the AFL* in 1987, he played a record of 244 consecutive games between 1987-98. Young Stynes apparently changed the way that the rucking role was played, and within a couple of years, his ability to run and easily win possessions was noted. One year he amassed an average of 26 possessions per match, great for a big player!!
In 1990 Stynes was named Melbourne’s vice-captain. He also played for Ireland against Australia in the International Rules series. Even better he won the Brownlow Medal in 1991, for being the fairest and best AFL footballer of the year across Australia.
How did an injured footballer not miss ANY games? In 1993 Jim should have missed 6 weeks with a compound rib fracture, yet he played on! But to keep on playing, Stynes endured a rigorous fitness test where tough Demon trainers ran into him during a 20-minute training session; the epitome of mental toughness as well. The next year he sustained a medial ligament tear, but again played on.
in the Avenue of Legends, outside the MCG
2014. ABC
When Stynes announced his retirement in 1998, Melbourne fans everywhere were grief stricken, including myself. And he also ended his playing career with the Australian National team, with whom he’d played 8 International Rules matches. In 1999 he became assistant coach for the Australian International Rules team.
Stynes became Melbourne Club President in 2008, heading up a new-look board when the club was in debt. He rebuilt an experienced team, and oversaw major debt reduction.
Note Jim Stynes’ place in the Australian sports pantheon of champions, added to the Avenue of Legends outside the MCG**, largest sports stadium in the southern hemisphere. He stands with 14 other Australian stars, including tennis and cricket players, sculpted in bronze by Lis Johnson.
Community Work
Jim was committed to philanthropy, using his high profile to co-found The Reach Foundation with film director Paul Currie in 1994. Their initiative encouraged the hidden-abilities in youngsters to experience a better life; that every young person should have whatever support was needed. Reach impacted positively on 500,000 young Australians via schools, workshops and weekends away, and worked with teachers and youth workers.
His 1995 autobiography, Whatever It Takes, reflected the importance of this community work. Furthermore Stynes co-wrote the children’s self-help book Heroes (2003) and became a member of the Federal Minister for Youths Committee. Then Stynes co-wrote another children’s self-help book, Finding Heroes (2005) and became a member of the Federal Minister for Educations Advisory Group. He won an Order of Australia in 2007.
Happily Jim married Samantha in 2000, and had two children: Tiernan and Matisse. And he realised his own teenage dream of a university education: Bachelor of Social Science (RMIT Uni); Bachelor of Education (Deakin Uni); and honorary Doctorate (Australian Catholic Uni).
In July 2009, Jim Stynes was diagnosed with cancer and given months to live. He was 42, had been healthy, fit and intolerant of illness. In July, he held a media conference to announce that he had back cancer.. which had spread to his brain. And he became the first person in Australia to trial Ipilmumab, a new immune-stimulation treatment. Then he had surgery to remove his brain tumours.
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Jim Stynes Pedestrian and Cycling Bridge
links North Wharf, World Trade Centre, MCG and city centre, opened 2014
In fact he was Melbourne’s best player 3 years in a row: 1995-7 so he received 3 Best and Fairest Awards. Stynes represented Victoria for the first time in State of Origin football; altogether he played in 10 State teams for Victoria. Stynes ended his career with 264 matches, second only to God/Robert Flower as Melbourne’s recordholder.
When Stynes announced his retirement in 1998, Melbourne fans everywhere were grief stricken, including myself. And he also ended his playing career with the Australian National team, with whom he’d played 8 International Rules matches. In 1999 he became assistant coach for the Australian International Rules team.
Stynes became Melbourne Club President in 2008, heading up a new-look board when the club was in debt. He rebuilt an experienced team, and oversaw major debt reduction.
Note Jim Stynes’ place in the Australian sports pantheon of champions, added to the Avenue of Legends outside the MCG**, largest sports stadium in the southern hemisphere. He stands with 14 other Australian stars, including tennis and cricket players, sculpted in bronze by Lis Johnson.
Community Work
Jim was committed to philanthropy, using his high profile to co-found The Reach Foundation with film director Paul Currie in 1994. Their initiative encouraged the hidden-abilities in youngsters to experience a better life; that every young person should have whatever support was needed. Reach impacted positively on 500,000 young Australians via schools, workshops and weekends away, and worked with teachers and youth workers.
His 1995 autobiography, Whatever It Takes, reflected the importance of this community work. Furthermore Stynes co-wrote the children’s self-help book Heroes (2003) and became a member of the Federal Minister for Youths Committee. Then Stynes co-wrote another children’s self-help book, Finding Heroes (2005) and became a member of the Federal Minister for Educations Advisory Group. He won an Order of Australia in 2007.
Happily Jim married Samantha in 2000, and had two children: Tiernan and Matisse. And he realised his own teenage dream of a university education: Bachelor of Social Science (RMIT Uni); Bachelor of Education (Deakin Uni); and honorary Doctorate (Australian Catholic Uni).
In July 2009, Jim Stynes was diagnosed with cancer and given months to live. He was 42, had been healthy, fit and intolerant of illness. In July, he held a media conference to announce that he had back cancer.. which had spread to his brain. And he became the first person in Australia to trial Ipilmumab, a new immune-stimulation treatment. Then he had surgery to remove his brain tumours.
Thousands of fans at Jim Stynes' funeral
2012. Herald Sun.
Stynes’ final legacy was his book My Journey (2012). Tough in detail, Jim wrote a moving, inspiring story of a life lived fearlessly. And he participated in the tv documentary about his life: Every Heart Beats True.
He passed away in 2012 at his Melbourne home, at 45, and last respects were paid at a state funeral. Thank you Ireland for our Australian hero.
He passed away in 2012 at his Melbourne home, at 45, and last respects were paid at a state funeral. Thank you Ireland for our Australian hero.
links North Wharf, World Trade Centre, MCG and city centre, opened 2014
oculus
*Australian Football League
** Melbourne Cricket Ground
** Melbourne Cricket Ground