Jim Stynes Biography

Zach Tuohy will break Jim Stynes' record for the most AFL games by an Irish-born player.

“It’s a strange one. I’m obviously proud I’ve been able to play as long as I have, but he’s everyone’s hero. You almost feel guilty playing more games than him,” Tuohy said.

“I knew of Jim Stynes (when I arrived), obviously. I don’t think I appreciated the significant impact he had on the game or his legacy post-career. I only got to appreciate that when I came out. I must admit, I was blown away to see how significant a character he was.”

Late AFL great Jim Stynes has been immortalised in bronze outside the MCG.

A statue of the 1991 Brownlow medallist has been unveiled in front of some of the game's biggest names including Ron Barassi, along the Avenue of Legends in Melbourne's Yarra Park.

The statue depicts Stynes in his No.11 Demons jumper, with a Sherrin clasped between his hands and a look of determination on his face.

Stynes' widow Samantha Stynes said she was overwhelmed by the beauty of the statue.

"I can visualise Jim playing when I see that," she told reporters.

"It takes me back 15 years ago seeing him on the field - the level of detail with the glove and the thigh pad and we've still got those boots."

Jim Stynes has been immortalised, with the unveiling of the Jim Stynes Bridge at Docklands in Melbourne.

The Jim Stynes Bridge, named after the 1991 Brownlow medallist, is part of a $25 million redevelopment at Northbank in Melbourne's CBD.

"I am delighted to open the new Jim Stynes Bridge, a fitting tribute to the memory of this outstanding man, footballer and philanthropist," Victorian planning minister Matthew Guy said.

"This bridge ensures that Jim's work is alive in the hearts and minds of all Melburnians."

Jim Stynes will take his place in Australian sport's pantheon of champions, becoming the latest addition to the Avenue of Legends outside the MCG to stand alongside 14 other Australian greats.

Stynes becomes the first overseas-born inductee, completing a most unlikely journey after arriving in Australia from Ireland as a skinny 18-year-old gaelic footballer.

"It is fitting that 30 years after the Gaelic footballer was recruited from Dublin, we announce Jim Stynes' induction into the … Avenue of Legends series," MCC president Paul Sheahan said.

"A true gentleman of the game, there is no doubt that he is one of the most extraordinary and inspiring figures in the history of Australian sport."

Jim Stynes' family has accepted the Victorian Government's offer of a State funeral.

"I think Jim Stynes was an exceptional individual, but I also think he's an exceptional Victorian. He's seen in that light, I believe, by every Victorian," Victorian Premier Ted Baillieu said.

"He wasn't just a footballer. He was an extraordinary family man and somebody who reached out to so many young people, in particular, and the state is honoured to be able to support his family and provide a state funeral."

Former Melbourne champion Jim Stynes, 45, has lost his long, brave battle with cancer. Stynes is survived by wife Samantha, daughter Matisse and son Tiernan.

Jim Stynes officially relinquishes his position as Melbourne president to focus on his family and his health.

"As Melbourne enters what promises to be an exciting new season and an exciting new era I see this as an opportune time to step down as Melbourne president," Stynes said in a statement.

"It will give the football club the best chance to be 100 per cent prepared for round one and it will give me the time to fully focus on my health and my family."

New Melbourne recruit Mitch Clark has been offered club legend Jim Stynes' famous No. 11 guernsey.

"I don't know Jim personally, but just the way people talk about him at the footy club, he's a great," Clark said.

"I haven't spoken to him personally yet. I'm looking forward to the opportunity of doing so ... I'll make a decision after that. I'll talk to Jim first and get a feel for the whole thing."

Jim Stynes will have surgery to remove a tumour in his stomach next week as he continues his fight against cancer.

Demons president Jim Stynes says his wish for 2010 is simply to get to the next Christmas.

"My hope would be that I get to next Christmas," Stynes said.

"It's pretty simple for me. I don't worry too much about things any more. When your life is threatened with disease everything else pales into insignificance.

"But I'm planning to enjoy my kids growing up and enjoy my relationship with my wife."

Jim Stynes', battling with cancer, reveals he now has a brain tumour.

"Small bump on recover, little tumour on brain, will know soon,'' Stynes wrote on Twitter today.

"Good news PETscan all clean on rest body. great support everyone xox''.

Melbourne great Garry Lyon believes president Jim Stynes is the "greatest footy story ever".

"He was the worst football player in the competition when he came to Melbourne," Lyon said.

"He couldn't mark, he couldn't kick, he could run.

"He was ugly, pale skin and you reckon Liam Jurrah doesn't speak English that well - well, you should've heard Jimmy when he got here ... and he ended up becoming the best player in the competition."

Melbourne has received a boost ahead of tomorrow's clash with Geelong, getting a inspirational visit from Jim Stynes at training.

"I'm pretty good today ... this has probably been my best day. Every day I get up it's a little bit easier. Obviously I'm not used to having my lung capacity restricted," Stynes said.

"It's come really good, I'm really happy. I suppose, given the circumstances, I could not be feeling much better."

Jim Stynes is discharged from hospital and is recovering at home a fortnight after revealing his diagnoses with cancer.

"I spoke to Jimmy this morning and he's in great spirits," Melbourne interim president Don McLardy said.

"He did tell me that his chest has been extremely painful. They opened his ribcage up and he did say that if he was still playing he might have had to miss this week, so he must have been in a fair bit of pain."

Melbourne president Jim Stynes describes the first steps in his battle against cancer as "a success".

Stynes said he unexpectedly went back into surgery on Sunday night to remove "some suspect cells, as a bit of insurance".

"It's been a challenging few days, but we're hoping the worst is behind us," Stynes said.

"As you can imagine, answering the same questions takes a bit of energy, but I assure you I'll let you know when I receive any results, as we begin our journey to eliminate the cancer for good."

Jim Stynes was awake and feeling optimistic in his hospital bed yesterday afternoon, watching his beloved Demons on television defeat West Coast after an operation that doctors hope will save his life.

Melbourne coach Dean Bailey says his players can rally around ill president Jim Stynes by beating West Coast on Saturday.

"The emotion side of it is going to be the real key," Bailey said.

"We don't want the players to have played the game before they get there.

"We've got to make sure the focus is on winning the contested ball and winning the game. We don't want to overstate it and we don't want to understate it because Jim has been such a revelation to the club.

"He's brought trust and integrity beyond what we would think. We do need to rally around him and support him. There's no doubt about that and the way the players can do that is to really perform well."

AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou praises the work Jim Stynes has done for Melbourne and wishes him a speedy recovery.

"He now faces his biggest battle ... and we wish him a speedy recovery. It's a terribly difficult time for Jim and his family," he said.

"We want nothing more than to see Jim Stynes return to health and return to being the president of the Melbourne Football Club.

"I know that through these difficult times, the football community and mainstream community will wish Jim and his family the best."

Melbourne players have vowed to take inspiration from Jim Stynes' cancer battle on to the playing field.

"Every one of us has to step up now and take a bit of Jimmy with us," captain James McDonald said.

"He's given so much to this footy club, and he has a big challenge now. We also have to stand up to the challenge."

An emotional Melbourne president Jim Stynes reveals he is suffering from cancer and will take a break from his position with the Demons.

"I thought it might just be located in that one area but it's not, it's spread quite a bit and I have a journey to go on," Stynes said.

"I need to understand it and work with it, I've got some of the best people in the country working with me.

"I'm not walking away but I will be taking a break and I'll need to take the rest of the season off," he said.

Melbourne president Jim Stynes, recently diagnosed with cancer, has spoken to fellow cancer-sufferer Adam Ramanauskas about how he dealt with his ailment.

"I had a great conversation with Adam Ramanauskas last week because he's been through something similar and it has this kind of public attention," Stynes said.

"If it was more than 12 months ago I might have been able to do it on the quiet, it would have been just a little story and it would have made it a lot easier.

"He was great and I'm sure a lot of people will want to send me best wishes notes and I love hearing from people but I need to really focus on me."

Jim Stynes' wife Sam has declared her absolute faith in his fighting spirit as he enters hospital for cancer treatment.

"Never in our wildest dreams would Jim and I have realised what was around the corner," she writes in a column for the Herald Sun.

"Like a swift slap in the face that leaves a burning sting, our world unexpectedly just fell apart.

"I have been asked several times if Jim and I are putting on a brave front. Of course we are.

"What choice does one have under such circumstances, really?"

Channel Nine is reporting that Melbourne president Jim Stynes is stepping down from his position due to ill health.

Melbourne Football Club vice president Don McLardy said tonight he could not comment about Stynes.

"No, I can't actually, mate, but certainly tomorrow there'll be an announcement," he said.

Melbourne president Jim Stynes says Jack Watts' debut against Collingwood will now take some pressure off the 18-year-old.

"When I played my first game, no-one knew. It was down at Geelong at Kardinia Park," Stynes said.

"I suppose Jeff White was our biggest recruit in a long time. But with Jack playing now it probably takes a bit of pressure off, because he can now go back and get himself bigger and better and it'll come."

Melbourne Demons president wants his No. 1 draft pick Jack Watts to play by round 12 but Demons coach Dean Bailey wants a more conservative approach to the prized recruit.

"It's delicate. I could sit here and say that's it, he'll play on such and such date. And everyone wants a date and time," Bailey said.

"But we have to keep Jack in a mode where we see regular progression. We also have to assess him week to week because the worst thing that could happen is he starts to get tired."

Melbourne president Jim Stynes has challenged Hawks counterpart Jeff Kennett and Sam Newman to get hands-on umpiring experience.

"You look at what Jeff Kennett said towards umpires, and to me that's ridiculous. Umpires have to be a no-go zone," Stynes said.

"I would have thought, 'Jeff, go and get to know the umpires, go and see it from their side of fence and understand what they have to go through', so that we can attract great people who make great decisions because it is really tough out there.

"I would love to see Sam Newman get out there and try and umpire a game and put the cameras on him and see how he goes. He tries to make out it's so easy. It's not easy to make decisions in a split second."

Melbourne president Jim Stynes has backed coach Dean Bailey's brand of football after last week's clash against Adelaide was labelled ugly.

"While Adelaide was criticised as being a poor game, we could have snatched victory in the last quarter," Stynes said.

"I understand we have to put on entertainment. But at the moment when you have a team that is struggling because of the age group playing and the lack of depth, I would rather support a team that fights out games rather than playing a style of play that means you could get blown out of the water."

Melbourne president Jim Stynes yesterday condemned the attack on Nathan Jones' father Brad after Saturday's MCG clash against Collingwood, but said the game was safer than other codes.

Melbourne president Jim Stynes has called for perpetrators of violence at football matches to have their club memberships revoked.

Stynes made the call on Monday in the wake of the post-match incident where Nathan Jones' father was assaulted outside the ground.

Brad Jones suffered a broken nose as he was leaving the ground on Saturday after the match between Collingwood and Melbourne, and was taken straight to hospital.

Jim Stynes says a new agreement between Melbourne and the MCC could make the partnership the strongest sporting club in the world.

Melbourne president Jim Stynes has rejected claims by Paul McNamee that he was on the verge of a $6 million sponsorship coup when he was sacked as chief executive.