RIP Jim Stynes

rebel girl 15 · 19-03-2012 9:59pm #1

Just heard that Jim Stynes has lost his battle with cancer

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/jim-stynes-loses-brave-cancer-battle/story-e6frf7jo-1226304796968

The first international player to win a Brownlow Medal was 45

arandale · 19-03-2012 10:03pm

May he rest in peace. He was a true gentleman by all accounts.

HeidiHeidi · 19-03-2012 10:08pm

Oh golly - I know less than nothing about Aussie football, but I remember seeing a documentary about this guy and his fight with cancer and it was really moving.

RIP.

thegreengoblin · 19-03-2012 10:09pm

Dreadful news. Deepest sympathies to his family and friends.
RIP Jim.

smodgley · 19-03-2012 10:37pm

RIP to a great man on an off the field of play

Barnavave · 19-03-2012 10:41pm

He fought a brave fight. R.I.P. Jim.

MrJoeSoap · 19-03-2012 10:55pm

I watch "Every Heart Beats True" a few times a year to bring myself back to reality. RIP Jim, you are one of the greatest people this country has ever produced.

distantmemory · 19-03-2012 11:02pm

Anyone have a link to this documentary?, I saw it before and it would realy put things in perspective. Absolute Legend!

Xavi6 · 19-03-2012 11:05pm

Just woke up to the news, very very sad. Fantastic ambassador for Ireland and a superb player/club man.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam

but1er · 19-03-2012 11:18pm

too young to remember this man but seen lost of clips and man who deserved an all Ireland medal

anyone got a link to the doc?

Barnavave · 19-03-2012 11:19pm

distantmemory wrote: »

Anyone have a link to this documentary?, I saw it before and it would realy put things in perspective. Absolute Legend!

http://www.movieberry.com/every_heart_beats_true_the_jim_stynes_story/

Fergus_Nash · 19-03-2012 11:23pm

That was the most inspiring documentary I have ever seen.

Guy was an absolute legend.

seipeal1 · 19-03-2012 11:45pm

MrJoeSoap wrote: »

I watch "Every Heart Beats True" a few times a year to bring myself back to reality. RIP Jim, you are one of the greatest people this country has ever produced.

I agree 100%. A desperately sad day for his family, his friends and for all of us Irish living in Oz who seen him as an inspiration over many years. One of the great Irishmen.

Pride Fighter · 20-03-2012 3:21am

RIP to a true hero and legend.

DoctorGonzo08 · 20-03-2012 11:20am

Very sad news.

captivo · 20-03-2012 11:27am

Absolute legend - from watching the documentary you could see that he was very dignified in dealing with his illness. RIP

DoctorGonzo08 · 20-03-2012 1:56pm

Some articles up on the afl.com.au site:

Jim Stynes Tribute
Jim Stynes - State Funeral

madds · 20-03-2012 4:30pm

My condolences to his young family in Melbourne, and his family back here in Ireland. He went to Oz but a boy but quickly became a man, a leader, and a legend. RIP.

_blank_ · 20-03-2012 5:45pm

The man was a legend.

sarsfield06 · 21-03-2012 12:10am

An inspirational person, he'll be missed.

thegen · 21-03-2012 10:06am

madds wrote: »

My condolences to his young family in Melbourne, and his family back here in Ireland. He went to Oz but a boy but quickly became a man, a leader, and a legend. RIP.

Madds,

His family sold up here and moved out to Oz a while back. Brian makes the odd trip home.

TheGEN.

bruschi · 21-03-2012 2:23pm

RIP Jim.

Its hard for those who are not into AFL or do not know the impact this man has left on Australia. His documentary from 2 years ago brought a spotlight on him for his battle with cancer, but he was so courageous in much more than his battle to the end.

He may have not spent much time on this earth, but his legacy will live on forever. He has left a huge impression on so many people, whther it was through sport or through his battle with cancer, or his Reach program he established. He not only was a legend of AFL and GAA, he was a legend in all walks of life and off the sporting field.

Xavi6 · 22-03-2012 3:22am

Sadly not everyone paid their respects.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/more-news/jason-akermanis-attacks-late-jim-stynes-saying-he-was-a-nasty-man-treated-like-a-demigod/story-fn7x8me2-1226307235911

He will be honoured at a state funeral in Melbourne on Tuesday, before his ashes are returned to Ireland.

But Akermanis is unlikely to be among mourners after telling breakfast hosts Mark Darin and Caroline Hutchinson that Stynes "was a nasty man in his day. He had a nice turn of phrase and he made sure you knew how he felt".

"What amazes me is yes, he was a legend of the game and did a great job and wonderful things with kids, but you know there are a bunch of people who have done just as much who don't get any recognition. I just think it's a bit out of kilter.

"He got a state funeral - do all football players get a state funeral? There's something about it all that just made me feel uncomfortable. Jim's good but is he that good?''

While Aker might raise a point about of sorts regarding the state funeral being out of the ordinary and unusual for a footballer, he should keep his mouth shut.

EDIT: And he's rightfully been sacked from his media role as a result. Plenty of players (Brad Green, Stevie Johnson, Cameron Ling and Matthew Richardson amongst others) are speaking out about him on Twitter which is great to see.

I like Aker as a sort of Gazza type figure when he played but now he's just an arsehole.

bruschi · 22-03-2012 9:07am

Aker is a tool of the highest order. He thinks he is of huge importance, and his self inflated ego is the only thing keeping him going. Agree with your last point, thought he was a great character as a player, but his last days with the bulldogs and his mouthing since have made me dislike him hugely. Jeez, anyone with any sort of cop on knows that if you disagree with a nation mourning a sporting star, you're best shutting up and leaving it lie in the aftermath of their death, not going slaggin them and making yourself a pariah.

Xavi6 · 22-03-2012 1:57pm

Superb Jim Stynes tribute from Garry Lyon on The Footy Show tonight, extremely fitting - http://www.triplem.com.au/melbourne/sport/afl/news/blog/garry-lyons-jim-stynes-eulogy/20120322-fxk1.html

seipeal1 · 23-03-2012 6:25pm

Xavi6 wrote: »

Superb Jim Stynes tribute from Garry Lyon on The Footy Show tonight, extremely fitting - http://www.triplem.com.au/melbourne/sport/afl/news/blog/garry-lyons-jim-stynes-eulogy/20120322-fxk1.html

True, Xavi. Hard to listen to it without the tears welling up in your eyes. A fitting eulogy for the man.

Mr. Guappa · 23-03-2012 9:43pm

Xavi6 wrote: »

Superb Jim Stynes tribute from Garry Lyon on The Footy Show tonight, extremely fitting - http://www.triplem.com.au/melbourne/sport/afl/news/blog/garry-lyons-jim-stynes-eulogy/20120322-fxk1.html

That is a wonderful tribute. Lump in the throat stuff.

MrJoeSoap · 23-03-2012 11:07pm

Garry Lyons was great in the Every Heart... documentary too. A great friend to a great man, and a touching and heartfelt tribute.

DoctorGonzo08 · 27-03-2012 2:45pm

http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/131494/default.aspx

jackbhoy · 28-03-2012 2:07am

DoctorGonzo08 wrote: »

http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/131494/default.aspx

I went down to Fed Square yesterday, it was amazing to see the place so thronged with people but so quiet that you could hear a pin drop, made hairs stand on back of my neck. A lovely send off...