What a sad day for not only sport, but Australia and Ireland in general. One the great gentlemen, Jim Stynes, succumbed to cancer after long and very public battle with the brutal disease.
I'm sure all sports fans are feeling for "Dublin Jim's" family, friends and colleagues - the world has been left a much poorer place for his loss.
From a personal point of view: I was just a lad when the Melbourne Demons took a punt on the big Irishman. At the time, the Irish experiment had it's doubters, but Melbourne's shamrock connection of Stynes and the mustachioed Sean Wight proved them all wrong. Jim also played with his brother Brian at Melbourne for a short time, but Brian didn't take to the game quite like Jim.
What Stynes lacked in skill, he made up for in determination. You would often see him fighting for the ball with a rover at the bottom of a pack. He went a long way to revolutionising the ruck position. Ruckmen today are so much more than just a beanpole in the middle. They are everywhere men that are required to do everything. Jimmy was ahead of his time.
What I best remember about Jimmy, was his consecutive games record....200 plus. On the footy show they would joke about Stynes having a leg cut off during the week, but still being able to play...classic! I can picture him wearing giant "mattresses" on his thighs as he bravely masked injury. So much like his final days.
I loved Jim's temperament on the field. He played with passion, but dripped sportsmanship. He was dominant, yet humble...the perfect role mode. I can remember when he ran across the mark in the 1987 pre-final vs the Hawks, gifting Gary Buckenara a goal and a spot in the Grand Final. My heart bled for him and I'm sure he used it as fuel to fire the rest of his career.
It was truly amazing for him to come from another code and another land, work his backside off and win our top honour, the Brownlow medal. It's the ultimate fairytale and a true inspiration to anyone who has a seemingly impossible dream.
Without doing any research, it is well known that Stynes always put others first. He tireless charity work and care for battlers is as legendary as his on field heroics. So many lives were improved directly from the work and care of the shy kid from Ireland.
Whenever you saw him speak, you knew it was heart felt and genuine. You could sense his pride every time he presented a gurnsey to a junior Demon. He loved the Melbourne football club and it loved him. I'm sure the D's will turn their grief into something positive and do their former champion proud.
Jim is in a better place now, looking down on those that he touched in his short time. He can be proud of what he achieved and the difference he made. Thanks for the memories Jimmy, you were truly an all round hero......Tragic.
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