Sydney Swans premiership player Tadhg Kennelly has spoken of his admiration for fellow Irishman Jim Stynes, who passed away this morning following a two-and-a-half year battle with cancer.

Kennelly said the celebrated Brownlow medallist, who played 264 games for the Melbourne Football Club, had paved the way for the likes of himself and players from other backgrounds to enjoy sustained success in the AFL.

“The stuff he did on field was unbelievable and really, for myself, I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for Jimmy Stynes because he was the trailblazer, he was the one that set the tone for people with different backgrounds,” Kennelly said.

“Not just for Irish players, but the likes of Nic Naitanui and blokes with totally different backgrounds and upbringings to AFL, he was the one that set the scene … and I’m indebted to the man because I wouldn’t be standing here today.”

Stynes created the Reach Foundation, which worked to improve the mental health and wellbeing of children and youths aged 10 to 18, and was the president of the Melbourne Football Club until last month. Kennelly said that Stynes would be remembered as much for his remarkable work off the field as what he was able to produce on it.

“Jim’s legacy is going to be enormous. On the field, Jim changed the game. He was a roaming ruckman, that wasn’t around at the time, and obviously winning the Brownlow medal,” he said.

“What he has done off field speaks for itself. The Reach Foundation and the work that he’s done for underprivileged kids is enormous. (Jim was) a real inspiring character and just a down-to-earth bloke that had so much time for so many people.
“Most footballers visit schools once a week, or once a month - Jimmy set a school up.”

Kennelly, who played 197 games for the Swans after making the move across from county Kerry in 1999, said the passing of Stynes would be felt heavily by the Irish community, both in Australia and back home.

“You mention AFL in Ireland and straight away … it’s Jim Stynes,” Kennelly said.

“Jimmy was a very proud Irishman, and we’re a small nation and we do celebrate our exports and people that are good ambassadors for the Irish community - and Jimmy was very much that.”

The Stynes family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to either The Jim Stynes Future Fund or Peter Mac Cancer Foundation.