Jim Stynes Tribute
Prahran Football Club juniors took part in the celebration ceremony of the life of Melbourne Fooball Club icon and former Prahran player Jim Stynes at the MCG on Sunday April 22.
A junior player accompanied each of the 22 Melbourne players as they took the field for the match v Western Bulldogs.
The Stynes family, friends and several past players formed a guard of honour for the Melbourne players as they came onto the ground.
The emotional tribute could not conjure a win, however, as the Bulldogs denied Melbourne with a 21 point victory.
Stynes, who died on March 20, 2012 after a protracted and very public fight against cancer, played just half a season with the club but he made a profound impact.
Stynes joined Prahran for round 11 of the 1986 VFA season v Oakleigh after a call from Melbourne suggesting regular senior football as a ruckman would hasten his development.
In just 10 games, including a finals campaign, Stynes went from strength to strength and finished runner-up in the best and fairest to playing coach Greg Hutchison before returning to Melbourne.
We followed Jim's football and life journeys with pride and his friendships with several of our players endure.