Jim Stynes

This footballer has two siblings named Brian and David, both of them followed Jim’s footsteps and played the sport at a professional level.

Even while he was busy playing football, Jim founded the non-profit organization ‘The Reach Foundation’ along with a movie director named Paul Currie, in 1994. The initiative was aimed at encourage the talent and hidden-abilities in youngsters so that they experience a better life.

Stynes was born to Teresa and Brian on the 23rd of April, 1966 in Dublin, Ireland. He was raised in the Rathfarnham suburb of Ireland, where he attended the ‘Ballyroan Boys School’. He then moved to the ‘De La Stelle College Churchtown’, where he continued his further studies.

His first tryst with football was at the tender age of eight. He even went on to represent the ‘Ballyboden St. Enda’s Gaelic Athletic Association’, at the under-11 level, later that year.

He was further inspired by a 1980 movie titled ‘The Club’, which was based on Football. Watching this flick gave him the much needed exposure in understanding how the game is played at a professional level.

In 1984, Jim got an opportunity to play for his hometown, Dublin, in the ‘All-Ireland Minor Football Championship’. His team even emerged victorious in this contest.

Stynes’ destiny changed when he came across an advertisement of the ‘Melbourne Football Club’. Luckily for him, the youngster grabbed this opportunity and landed in Australia in the year 1984.

Jim got a big career break when he represented ‘Melbourne Football Club’ in a match against ‘Geelong Football Club’ in 1987. However, he was criticized for faring poorly in all these games.

This footballer silenced his critics through his striking performance in the ‘1988 VFL Grand Final’. The latter was then announced as the ‘Best Player of the match’, despite his team’s dismal show.

Stynes suffered a major injury in 1993 during a contest against ‘North Melbourne Football Club’. However, he convinced his coach to allow him to continue playing and even performed by braving the injury.

Even the next year, he continued playing despite not being completely physically fit.

This Australian footballer reached the peak of his career during the period 1995-98,

Jim was felicitated with the ‘Australian Sports Medal’ in 2000 for his contribution to football. He also won a place in the ‘Team of the Century’, announced by the ‘Melbourne Football Club’, at around the same time.

Stynes received the ‘Doctor of the University’ honour from the ‘Australian Catholic University’.

This footballer won the ‘Brownlow Medal’ in 1991 for being one of the most consistent players of that year. He was also a recipient of the ‘AFL Players Association MVP Award’, an honour which he received at the same time.

Jim’s football prowess won him a place in the ‘Australian Football Hall of Fame’ in 2003.

Stynes was honoured with the ‘Medal of the Order of Australia’ in 2007 for mentoring youngsters and contributing greatly towards the sport.