Jim Stynes

Jim Stynes

David Garcia Castro TY2

General information

James "Jim" Stynes OAM (23 April 1966 – 20 March 2012) was

a prominent Irish-born Australian footballer who was best known for his career as a professional Australian rules

football player and administrator. He was also a philanthropist, charity worker

and writer.

Stynes was born in Dublin, Ireland in Rathfarnham. Since a very early age he began to play Gaelic football. With the age of nine he played at Ballyboden St Endas.

Stynes' first exposure to Australian rules football was watching the 1980 film The Club on television.

Stynes represented Dublin and in 1984 at the age of eighteen, was on Dublin's winning side in the All-Ireland Minor Football Championship.

Early Life

Move to Australia

In 1984 Stynes responded to an advertisement in his local paper placed by the Melbourne Football Club that offered two scholarships all expenses paid to play football and attend university in Victoria, Australia.

The tall and skinny Jim Stynes was selected. He debuted for the Melbourne under 19’s team. 

In 1987 he played in a night premiership side. He was dropped after a poor performance; however, he returned to the senior side later in the season against the Brisbane Bears.

The next year, Melbourne made the Grand Final. Despite being beaten by 96 points, Stynes was voted Melbourne's best player of the match.

Stynes' best year came in 1991, playing a consistent season he became favourite to win the Brownlow Medal and did so with 25 five votes clear of any other player.

VFL/AFL career

Honour and achievements

Individual Year

Brownlow medal 1991

Bluey medal 1991-1995-1996-1997

Leigh Matthew Trophy

1991

All-Australian 1991-1993

Herald Sun Player of the Year

1991

Hall of Fame Inductee 2003Team Year

Night Series Premiership

1987

The Reach Foundation

In 1994, Stynes co-founded The Reach Foundation and became a prominent youth worker in Victoria.

Reach believes that every young person should have the support and self-belief they need to fulfill their potential and dare to dream.

A place where they can increase their self-belief, discover who they are and recognize that they are not alone.

Illness

On 2 July 2009, Stynes held a media conference to inform the public that he had developed cancer.

On 4 April 2010 it was revealed that his condition had worsened and three days later he had surgery for brain metastasis.

Ted Baillieu, the Premier of Victoria described Stynes as "an exceptional Victorian", and later offered a state funeral to Stynes' family, which was accepted.

Death

Stynes died at his St Kilda home on 20 March 2012, aged 45.  He was cremated, and his ashes were scattered at a "treasured spot" he chose before he died.

A commemoration was held prior to Dublin's NFL match against Donegal, both of which were held on the Saturday after Stynes' death.

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