February 03, 2010

This was Steve’s answer to a question on his Melbourne Football Club work experience application form. He thought it could double up as an article...

THE person I admire as a leader is Jim Stynes. Coming from Dublin, Ireland and having such an illustrious football career on and off the field was truly inspirational. He played 264 games, 244 of those consecutively (a VFL/AFL record).  He kicked 130 goals, won the club’s best and fairest four times, and won the ultimate individual football prize, the Brownlow Medal, in 1991. Jim has captured the imaginations of people throughout Australia, Ireland and in other parts of the world.
After his fantastic career that started in 1987 ended, Jim teamed up to start a foundation to help disadvantaged and troubled kids called Reach, and in doing that made many friends outside the football world.
In June 2008, Stynes took over Paul Gardner’s role as president of the oldest club in the game. It was an act that saw memberships sold left, right and centre. At the membership cut-off, the Demons had sold a record number of almost 30,000 memberships. That was broken last year as well when 31,508 members signed up, which just goes to show how much inspiration Jim gives to the club.
Tragedy struck mid-way through last year when Jim was diagnosed with cancer in the back. The condition got worse, but Jim’s commitment to the club wasn’t deviated even slightly. He took the cancer really well, which was shown in his press conference after he was diagnosed. Only a few weeks later, Jim was sitting in the outer at Casey Fields to see his Dees train. Jim lost his hair but didn’t lose his spirit.
I was lucky enough to see Jim quite regularly at the MCG last year, as well as saying hello a couple of times. He created a great bond between himself and the supporters last year; he frequently sat in the cheer squad and introduced himself to the loyal fans. In round four against Richmond (our first win for the year), Brad Miller kicked a goal into the city end stands, straight into the outstretched hands of big Jimmy himself.
During the off season Jim visited Yuendumu (NT) with Liam Jurrah, who had created a massive storm in the football media during the season, kicking miraculous goals and taking high flying marks, sometimes in one hand. In pictures I’ve seen, Yuendumu was ablaze in red and blue in Jurrah’s home town, as it should be.
And that is why Jim Stynes is the leader I admire, the ex-Demon ruckman has been through so much throughout his life, and there have been bumps along the way (such as when he ran over the mark in the 1987 preliminary final). Jim is truly an amazing person who is respected now by many, and by many more in years to come.



• Melbourne president Jim Stynes. Photo Slattery Media Group.

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