The AFL and GAA legend will become one of an elite group of sportsmen to have a statue erected in their honour at one of the famous sporting venues in the world.
Stynes, who passed away in March 2012, is still remembered with great fondness by the Australian Rules and the wider sporting community in Australia, both for his impact as a player after arriving as a teenager from Dublin in the mid-1980s, for his brave fight against cancer and for his tireless work with disadvantaged kids which he dedicated himself to following his playing career.
Almost three decades after his arrival in Australia, it was today announced that Stynes will be remembered with a bronze statue in the famed Australia Post Avenue of Legends at the MCG in Melbourne, following in the footsteps of the likes of VFL/AFL coach of the century Norm Smith and cricketing legend Shane Warne amongst others.
Commenting on the honour, MCC (Melbourne Cricket Club) President Paul Sheahan is quoted on the website of AFL club Melbourne Demons as saying: “A true gentleman of the game, Stynes is an exceptional individual whose achievements as a non-Australian born player remain unmatched. There is no doubt he is one of the most extraordinary and inspiring figures in the history of Australian sport.”
Australia Post managing director and CEO Ahmed Fahour added: “We’re delighted that Jim Stynes has been chosen to feature on the Australia Post Avenue of Legends. He was not only a great AFL champion; he was also an inspiration to many underprivileged and troubled youths during his career and later through the Reach Foundation.”
Lis Johnson, who has sculpted three statues at the MCG in the past, has been commissioned to sculpt Stynes’ statue and a date for its unveiling will be announced later this year.
Stynes may be gone but he’ll never be forgotten and this is a fitting tribute to a legend on both sides of the world.
