Jim Stynes OAM

1966 - 2012

AFL Legend and all round great man

RIP

Born in Dublin, Jim Stynes was brought from Ireland to Australia in the mid 1980s as part of a Ron Barassi inspired program to recruit Irish footballers for the Melbourne Football Club. Described as ‘Australia’s most successful sporting experiment’, he played his first senior game in 1987 and retired 264 games later in 1998.

Jim has devoted his life to helping young Australians. In 1994 he co-founded The Reach Foundation with film director Paul Currie. Jim has received numerous awards for his work with Reach and in the community including Melbournian of the Year (2010), Order of Australia and Churchill Fellowship (2007), and Victorian of the Year (2001 and 2003).

On the football field, his honours include the 1991 Brownlow Medal and four Melbourne Football Club Best & Fairest awards (1991, 1994, 1995, 1997), equaling the club record. His most extraordinary achievement was playing an AFL record-breaking 244 consecutive games between Round 17 1987 and Round 4 1998. Jim was inducted into the AFL Hall of Fame in 2003.

Jim was the co founder of www.reach.org.au