Irish born AFL football star, Jim Stynes, died from Cancer at age 45 on March 20, 2012. Recognized as one of the game's greats, the significant sporting accomplishments and charitable work undertaken by Jim Stynes marks him as a truly great Australian.

Born James Peter Stynes on April 23, 1966 in Dublin, Ireland, Stynes illustrious Aussie rules career was followed by time as an AFL administrator, philanthropist, charity worker and writer.

Let’s explore some of the key accomplishments achieved by Jim Stynes during his most remarkable life.

Melbourne Football Club Champion

Jim Stynes was recruited from Ireland in the mid 1980's and made his senior debut for the Melbourne Football Club in 1987.

As a player Jim achieved 244 consecutive games for his beloved club, Melbourne. That feat stands as an AFL record and a testament to the man's courage and tenacious spirit.

Stynes was a champion and widely lauded as a talented, hard-working, fair and courageous player.

In total Stynes played 264 games for the Melbourne Demons which, at the time of his retirement from the game, placed him second on the club’s all time games tally.

Jim Stynes Brownlow Medal Winner 1991

Highly respected, both on and off the field, Jim Stynes won four club Best and Fairest awards at the Melbourne Football Club.

His crowning football achievement was winning the Brownlow Medal, the games highest individual prize, for Best and Fairest player in 1987.

Stynes was the first international player to win that most coveted award.

But Stynes racked up so many other achievements during his time with the Melbourne Demons, including the following:

• Member of the winning night series premiership teams in 1987 and 1989

• Awarded the Keith ‘Bluey’ Truscott Medal, for Melbourne’s best player of the year, in 1991, 1995, 1996 and 1997

• Leigh Matthews Trophy 1991

• Named All-Australian in 1991 and 1993

• Herald Sun Player of the Year Award 1991

• Member of the Melbourne Football Club Team of the Century

• Inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame in 2003

After representing both Australia and Ireland in International Rules, the Jim Stynes Medal was named in Stynes’s honor and first awarded in 1998 to the best Australian player in the series.

Likewise, the Jim Stynes Cup was awarded to the winner of the inaugural International Australian Football Youth Tournament.

In 2000 Stynes received an Australian Sports Medal and was named in the Melbourne Football Club’s Team of the Century.

for his work with the Reach Foundation and, in recognition of his social work, was named a ‘Doctor of the University’ by the Australian Catholic University.

Jim Stynes and the Reach Foundation 

After his playing days were over Jim threw himself into charitable causes, most notably youth work.

Most well known was Stynes association with the Reach Foundation for which he received the Centenary Medal in 2001 and Melburnian of the Year in 2010.

Founded in 1994, the Reach Foundation works to provide disenfranchised youth with a sense of self worth and aids their transition back into the community,

In 1997 Stynes worked on the Victorian Government Suicide Task Force as well as the Federal Minister For Youth’s Youth Advisory Consultative Forum Committee.

Jim Stynes The Author

The author of two autobiographies and two children self-help books, Stynes written works include the following:

• Whatever It Takes, co-written with Jim Main

• My Journey, co-written with Warwick Green

• Heroes and Finding Heroes, both co-written with Dr Jon Carnegie

President Of The Melbourne Football Club

His great love for the Melbourne Football Club brought Stynes back, at a very troubled time in the club's history, as President.

At the end of Stynes’ 2008 to 2012 tenure the club was reorganized, rejuvenated and on a sound financial footing.

Enabling the games oldest club to survive, without having to merge with another club and/or relocate interstate, is an achievement for which all supporters of the code should be grateful.

Jim Stynes Order Of Australia Recipient

Jim's contribution to Australian society was formerly recognized with the following awards:

• Victorian of the Year in 2001 and 2003

• Order of Australia medal in 2007 for his work with youth and his contribution to Australian Rules Football

Jim Stynes: What We Leave Behind

Survived by his wife, Sam, and two young children Jim Stynes is greatly loved and sadly missed.

Sam Stynes wrote on her Facebook page that Jim died "pain-free, dignified and peaceful with his family by his side.”

In addition to sharing my thoughts in this post I’d like to dedicate the photo of Uluru in silhouette to Jim Stynes, an Irishman we loved to call Australian.

Though we wish his life had lasted longer, Stynes’ candle burned bright and illuminated a way forward for many people.

His skills and courage provided great joy to football supporters and his charitable work gave hope to many of Australia’s most disadvantaged people.

Jim Stynes has passed on, but his legacy remains. Much loved and admired, Jim Stynes RIP.

Glenn Guy, Travel Photography Guru