Sydney Swans Football Club Chairman, Richard Colless, today paid tribute to Melbourne Football Club legend Jim Stynes, following his sad passing.

“On behalf of everybody involved with the Swans, including our Board, management team, players and coaches, sponsors, and supporters all around the country, I express our deepest condolences to Jim’s wife Sam, his children Matisse and Tiernan and all of his family and friends.

“We also express our condolences to everyone involved in some way with the Melbourne Football Club. It is surely one of the saddest days in the club's long history. 

“Jim’s contribution to the Melbourne Football Club, the AFL and the broader community has been substantial and exemplary .

”He was a unique person with extraordinary vision and courage to match.”

Swans coach John Longmire and co-captain Adam Goodes also paid their respects to Stynes and passed on their thoughts and condolences to the Stynes family and the Melbourne Football Club community.

“When you think of his story, it’s absolutely remarkable … but as a person he is just a very good man and I think that’s what the football community has lost," Longmire said.

“We just feel for his family, it’s a traumatic time.

“Jim Stynes has been at the forefront of a lot of community issues for a long period of time.

“The bottom line for me is just that he was a very good man.”

Goodes said he hoped that the AFL community could help the Stynes family get through.

“To Jim and his family, our thoughts go out to them," Goodes said.

“They are part of the AFL family and this is very sad day and we just hope that with the help of the Melbourne Football Club and the AFL wider family that we can all help them get through it.

“We send out love and thoughts towards the family.”