Jim Stynes

Who was Jim Stynes?

James "Jim" Stynes OAM was a prominent Irish-born Australian footballer who was best known for his career as a professional Australian rules football player and administrator. He was also a philanthropist, charity worker and writer.

During his 264-game career with the Melbourne Football Club in the Australian Football League between 1987 and 1998, Stynes became the only non-Australian-born VFL/AFL player to win the prestigious Brownlow Medal, which he achieved in 1991. After his retirement he was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame.

Stynes had a high profile in both Australia and Ireland as a result of his involvement in the Melbourne Football Club's ambitious international recruitment program. Born in Dublin Ireland, where he was a promising Gaelic footballer, Stynes made an ambitious move to Australia at the age of 18 following his side's win in the 1984 All-Ireland Minor Football Championship. Debuting in the Australian Football League in 1987, he played a league record 244 consecutive games between 1987 and 1998.