Jim Stynes of Melbourne spectates during the AFL Round 09 match between the Melbourne Demons and Port Adelaide Power at TIO Stadium, Darwin.
It was back in about 1982 that Ron Barassi and Barry Richardson headed to Ireland for what became known as the ‘Irish experiment’. They were seeking tall players who might be able to ‘convert’ to Australian Football.
Barassi was in the middle of his ‘failed’ five-year plan at Melbourne. However, the result of his at the time much derided ‘Irish experiment’ may have both saved Melbourne Football Club almost 30 years on and perhaps fully vindicated Barassi’s vision like no amount of fringe Irish rookie listed lads can in season 2010.
Two players in particular stood out in the early days. Sean Wight, of Scottish/Irish background, and one Jim Stynes.
Stynes came to Melbourne at the end of 1984. He played 1985 in the Melbourne Under 19s and 1986 at VFA club Prahran. By 1987 he started to make his way as an open age player at Melbourne.
Barassi’s tenure had come to an end two years earlier. Stynes was reserves best and fairest at Melbourne and was to make his senior debut. He conceded a critical 15m penalty in the ’87 preliminary final that allowed Hawthorn’s Gary Buckenara to slot the winning goal. However, Stynes had kicked off a 264 game career that would include a record 244 games straight as well as the 1991 Brownlow Medal.
At the end of his career he did not return ‘home’ to Ireland. Staying on in Australia he’s done some fine work both as an anti-racism officer at the AFL and with his youth charity ‘Reach Foundation’.
In more recent times, he has assumed the role of chairman of Melbourne Football Club. A club racked by debt and just over 10 years ago had voted it’s approval of a merger proposition with Hawthorn.
As reported in The Age, with a $5 million dollar debt, Stynes feared he would be Melbourne’s last president.
Alas, Stynes has been ailed by cancer and is battling the fight of his life. However, along the way, via a couple of ‘debt demolition’ events and sustain work and passion, he has seen the Melbourne FC debt wiped.
This weekend the 150-plus year old Melbourne Football Club – one of the richest historical pedigrees of a football club of any code anywhere in the world – and the club is right on track, debt free and taking on Hawthorn with the promise that a win would set the Dees up for a real chance at a tilt at September finals action.
Perhaps it required an outsider, an Irishman, to help Melbourne Football Club rediscover itself, its pride, its passion and to start to recover its place in the broader landscape of Australian sporting heritage. This club should never be permitted to wither, die or merge and must more than any other club retain its place and its name in and as Melbourne.
Australian Football is much the better for Ron Barassi’s ‘Irish experiment’. And to Jim Stynes, I’m sure we all wish you our best.
Republican
Guest
I am going to visit rels in Tipperary next year and hope to catch some of those weedy fellas in action. Yes, what irony if the Poms in fact beat us to Rebublican status or even NZ! Viva le Republique!
Lorry
Guest
there's an old republican song (from the island of Ireland!) which goes something like "she was on the throne so long, we thought she'd never go!"... I think it's about the Queen's mother, and, unfortunately, I think the same thing will be said about this one! I believe a Republic is just essential for a lot of reasons, not least to really begin to pay back debt to the First Australians... In regards to the GAA, they might lose something, but then again I dont reckon rugby has lost much...there's still very much an amateur level (unlike, for example American Football...at least it appears that way..) All I know though, if I was lining up for The Kingdom (County Kerry), I'd want to be getting paid for my time.. And yes, Internat rules doesn't work (I do think AFL is the superior game!), however with professionalism the weedy GAA boys could hold their own more
Republican
Guest
Lorry Do you believe something special could be compromised if the GAA codes went pro? Like you I am a Republican if you hadn't already guessed, but I am not a great advocate or supporter of the hybrid International rules game. I must say. I don't think our respective countries require such a code collaboration despite the strong cultural affinity Eire and Aust share. As far as the Republic goes, Julia is taking a steady as she goes appraoch, preferring to wait for a change of Monarch. I only hope I live to see the day! Cheers
Lorry
Guest
On a side note, I think it's disgraceful that the Gaelic football and hurling players aren't paid and are totally amateur. The GAA games are hugely popular but instead the GAA just hordes all the cash... I know that the GAA's stance has something to do with republicanism (not sure exactly how, though), however, despite being a Republican myself (in regards to Ireland AND Australia!), I think the GAA really has to move beyond this. How is it fair that a professional sportsman is expected to play on a Sunday for peanuts and then turn up to teach, or fix the plumbing or do whatever they do on the Monday?! If the GAA were professional then perhaps we wouldn't have to endure the ugly and, for an Australian, shameful and embaressing scenes when the two codes meet in the International Rules. What a disgrace that was... I was ashamed of our bullying team that day...
SideShowBob
Roar Rookie
MC, The first round at Copenhagen saw 700 people turn up. The next two rounds were split between Farum, Denmark and Malmö, Sweden with the second round seeing 200 & 400 respectively, and then the 3rd round with 300 and 400. The finals round was held entirely in Malmö and again saw around 700. It certainly helped that the entry was free, the home nations performed well and that the local media buildup was extensive, as more than a few "curious" locals came by to see the games. Future ECs will probably be held every 3 or 4 years; depending on the International Cup cycle - currently 3 years. There is a school of thought that the IC cycle should go to 4 years, with the EC held in between.
Mister Football
Guest
I do have an extensive personal library - but I 'm embarassed to say that I don't think I have this one (or can't recall whether I do have it, one or the other - I've certainly heard of it, and I'm a big fan of Flanagan, so it's probably something I should rectify - might make a good present to myself to celebrate our first premiership in 56 years).
Mister Football
Guest
It's just fantastic to read stories like that - wish him all the best.
Michael C
Roar Guru
good one, I hadn't seen that yesterday, and only with the link up a bit higher to the Martin Flanagan story from 12 months ago did I note he'd been embedded at Melbourne for 2009,.......and seeing this now that he's doing the book/story explains why. It should be a good read. I wonder if Mr.Football has a copy of "Southern Sky, Western Oval". btw - the pride returning to MFC as well as the AFL community regaining pride IN MFC is important. It would be an absolute tragedy for the 'founding' club to be lost. Thankfully MFC has managed to increase membership - - but, I think it was still pointed out recently that with about 20,000 of MCC members nominating that they 'support' Melbourne FC- - the MCC vs MFC arrangement is still an issue. It's getting better though, it seems. For 2010, about 10,000 held 'dual memberships', and MFC membership options were included in the MCC renewal forms sent to MelbFC supporting MCC members.
Michael C
Roar Guru
This is a good article about Jimmy Stynes family, including talking about his father Brian (senior), and brother Brian (junior), and how the 5 siblings now all live in Australia,......a net gain for the nation me thinx. This article includes some interesting stuff about University, as well as a nice reflection on Ray 'Slug' Jordan.
JamesP
Guest
As a proud Melbourne Supporter, I salute Jimmy and wish him all the best for a speedy recovery. Here is an interesting article from The Age just yesterday talking about how Jim has re-established the Melbourne brand and has made the proud club acutally stand for something http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/jimmy-unity-and-a-sense-of-history-help-lift-melbourne-20100811-11zp9.html
beaver fever
Guest
My apoligies, although Jim does have a brother, and i think his brother is Brian as well.
Republican
Guest
I never had much like for Melbourne - historically speaking as they stood for the establishment but that culture has shifted over the years, especially with all this Irish influence which is somewhat ironic. I agree with the sentiments here, Jimmy is a courageous and inspirational individiual and he epitomises the Melbourne club and their style of footy these days. More power to you and yours Jim.
MVDave
Guest
Only going off the linked article..."One of the players to represent the Civil Service that day was Brian Stynes. His son, the then eighteen months old Jim Stynes, later became a winner of the coveted Brownlow Medal in the Australian Football League."
beaver fever
Guest
No, i think Brian was his brother ?.
Redb
Roar Guru
Clearly the young bloke has good taste in footy teams :-)
MVDave
Guest
Thanks...an interesting, and important, story for the history of AFL and its move to 'internationalize' its profile. Also the link with Brian Stynes, father of Jim, being involved in one of the preliminary games.
Michael C
Roar Guru
MVDave - re the Galahs, yep, here's a link to a pretty good pdf article about Harry (Beitzel) and the Galahs.. Barassi was selected and made captain coach. That was back to 1967.
Michael C
Roar Guru
Interesting that this Irish lad is a 10 year follower of the game from afar and had his own Essendon jumper. Small steps? a sign for the future?
Michael C
Roar Guru
reasonable question - - not sure of official attendances as there weren't in enclosed fields or charging admittance, but, more matches were reporting attendances of a few to several hundred, i.e. around 300 to 700 range. Just how that was made up......who knows. But, for a first go at the tournament - - quite possibily by it's 3rd or 4th iteration, it might be starting to hold a bit more gravitas.......especially once you get a chance to develop rivalries within the structure of an annual (or however often) European championships. Previously, full scale internationals b/w nations tended more to the ad hoc and were more likely in the lead up to an IC tourney in Australia. I guess that's one question - - will these European Championships be annual, or every year prior to an IC or what?? The reference to the tourney as EC2010 has been very much as a lead in to next years IC......so, I'm not sure that the next installment won't be EC2013.
beaver fever
Guest
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/debut-excites-22-year-old-irish-richmond-defender-jamie-oreilly/story-e6frf9jf-1225904149916 Another Irish journey starting, although ironically it can be debated that Richmond historically, is the most "Irish " of clubs anyway. All the best to Jim Stynes.