More good stuff from BackPage Lead

THE GREATEST DEMON OF ALL

Here here.

He would be right up there, a great player and a great clubman.

Jim Stynes stands along side Norm Smith for that Honour. I consider them equals.

Maybe a Statue outside our new Facilities is in order.

Jim Stynes stands along side Norm Smith for that Honour. I consider them equals.

Maybe a Statue outside our new Facilities is in order.

Let's not forget Ronald Dale Barassi...

Without doubt.

Let's not forget Ronald Dale Barassi...

ok, RDB as a player > NS and JS

but in the context of the club?

NS probably top. JS getting there. HCAHarrison maybe there too, as well as CheckerHughes.

It's probably impossible to answer the "greatest Demon of all time" question in terms of who in history has made the biggest overall contribution to the club.

That said, the point of the article is absolutely spot on. The enormity of what Jimmy Stynes has achieved for this club in the last three years -combined with his already staggering on-field achievements- will see to it that he is remembered as an icon and a central part of the very mythos of the club, in the same caliber as Norm Smith and Ronald Dale Barassi. That's no eulogy; I hope and believe his best work is ahead of him and he'll be around for years to come. That's just how he'll be remembered even if he walked away from football tomorrow.

More good stuff from BackPage Lead

THE GREATEST DEMON OF ALL

In Jim Stynes video "Dublin Jim" and also "The Red & Blue" 60 years of the Melbourne Football Club video - Jim talks about 'crossing the mark' and how he would do anything to repay the Melbourne Football Club for making that mistake.

Jim - you have repaid us over & over & over.

Thank you Thank you Thank you.

Jim talks about 'crossing the mark' and how he would do anything to repay the Melbourne Football Club for making that mistake.

It was the Hawks shot at goal that hit the post that was called a goal which cost us the game.

The crossing the mark, well, buckenara would have made the shot anyway, it was only a 15 meter penalty and the kick sailed through with more than 15 to spare

Jim should ease up on himself on that one

It was the Hawks shot at goal that hit the post that was called a goal which cost us the game.

The crossing the mark, well, buckenara would have made the shot anyway, it was only a 15 meter penalty and the kick sailed through with more than 15 to spare

Jim should ease up on himself on that one

You haven't mentioned the shots on goal by the likes of Simon Eishold, who was only a couple of metres out on a very acute angle, and Tony Campell, who ran in with no pressure on him and missed a sitter. I can still see that one float through for a point - I was sitting right behind the goals. ONE of those would have sealed the game.

Furthermore, I don't think the conclusion that Buckenara would have got it anyway is a valid one. Place the kicker 15 metres further out in the same extreme circumstances, and he may not kick with the same confidence. I say that the whole of life on earth would have been slightly different had the umpire not seen Jimmy run across the mark. Frankly, though, I just can't see why the rule should be applied at all once the siren has gone. Would someone be penalised for pulling the jumper of a player in the goalsquare while waiting for the last kick after the siren? Or would the umpire reverse a decision because the player taking the kick elbowed an opponent? I mean, where does it all end? And when does the game truly end? It's one of the many silly irrelevant-to-the-game rules that bedevils footy. Like a fifty for having a minor disagreement with an umpire who's made a shocking decision, which let's face it happens every five minutes. It just beats me that a team (other than Melbourne, of course) can score a goal this way. For practically nothing.

I think Stynes may have pipped many great names as the greatest demon of all.

We have had some legends, but what he has been able to do could be the major turning point in the clubs history.

If the dees can win a few flags with President Jim, then you can dub him perhaps the greatest demon of all time.

I think Stynes may have pipped many great names as the greatest demon of all.

We have had some legends, but what he has been able to do could be the major turning point in the clubs history.

If the dees can win a few flags with President Jim, then you can dub him perhaps the greatest demon of all time.

Whilst he will be recognised in being instrumental in the club's turnaround, there is still much work to be done; progress to be made. Foundations to be reinforced, asset base to be built to secure a future.

The best thing for now is there is no debt hanging over the clubs head. So there is breathing space and their next phase can start. Heads down, sleeves rolled up and work hard in developing a sustainable business model.

Was mentioned somewhere, can't remember right now but about how everyone scoffed at Ron Barassi going to Ireland to get players. How has that worked out for the MFC with the single example of Jim?

A superstar of a player for what he achieved and where he had come from.

A superstar of a president who started this club on a path out of the wilderness. Illness has not stopped him, his love and passion for the club is so infectious.

It is great that the Jim Stynes story originated from one club icon such as RDB and continues through until this day and hopefully up to and after our next premiership.

There are many great Demon names where the title 'greatest Demon of all time' would be appropriate. But in my life time alone (35) this title belongs to Jim.

Let's not forget Ronald Dale Barassi...

Fair comment WJ, but without Norm Smith RDB would not be the man he is. Without Stynesy this Club would not be standing in the AFL today as it is. These two men are TRUE LEADERS.

You haven't mentioned the shots on goal by the likes of Simon Eishold, who was only a couple of metres out on a very acute angle, and Tony Campell, who ran in with no pressure on him and missed a sitter. I can still see that one float through for a point - I was sitting right behind the goals. ONE of those would have sealed the game.

Yep, I was pulling out my hair at that stage

Furthermore, I don't think the conclusion that Buckenara would have got it anyway is a valid one. Place the kicker 15 metres further out in the same extreme circumstances, and he may not kick with the same confidence.

you're probably right but I never ever felt Jim was responsible for the loss (I'm not saying you do by any means)

You haven't mentioned the shots on goal by the likes of Simon Eishold, who was only a couple of metres out on a very acute angle, and Tony Campell, who ran in with no pressure on him and missed a sitter. I can still see that one float through for a point - I was sitting right behind the goals. ONE of those would have sealed the game.

Furthermore, I don't think the conclusion that Buckenara would have got it anyway is a valid one. Place the kicker 15 metres further out in the same extreme circumstances, and he may not kick with the same confidence. I say that the whole of life on earth would have been slightly different had the umpire not seen Jimmy run across the mark. Frankly, though, I just can't see why the rule should be applied at all once the siren has gone. Would someone be penalised for pulling the jumper of a player in the goalsquare while waiting for the last kick after the siren? Or would the umpire reverse a decision because the player taking the kick elbowed an opponent? I mean, where does it all end? And when does the game truly end? It's one of the many silly irrelevant-to-the-game rules that bedevils footy. Like a fifty for having a minor disagreement with an umpire who's made a shocking decision, which let's face it happens every five minutes. It just beats me that a team (other than Melbourne, of course) can score a goal this way. For practically nothing.

STOP IT!!!! i was sitting behind those goals at the main scoreboard end...I saw all those misses...Quit it now!!!!

Fair comment WJ, but without Norm Smith RDB would not be the man he is. Without Stynesy this Club would not be standing in the AFL today as it is. These two men are TRUE LEADERS.

And without RDB, Stynesy would still be in Ireland......

You've just gotta love the linkage between the club's three greats, Norm Smith, Ron Barassi, Jim Stynes

with Norm's "adoption" of Ron and Ron's Irish "experiment" with Jimma

Smith "made" Barassi who "made" Stynes ( 1935 - 2010 -> )

What a great story . . . . . and its still going

I wouldn't even attempt to rank them

You've just gotta love the linkage between the club's three greats, Norm Smith, Ron Barassi, Jim Stynes

with Norm's "adoption" of Ron and Ron's Irish "experiment" with Jimma

Smith "made" Barassi who "made" Stynes ( 1935 - 2010 -> )

What a great story . . . . . and its still going

I wouldn't even attempt to rank them

Equal number 1 for mine between the 3 of them!

Jimmy has saved this club. He simply has to be the greatest demon of them all.

Jimmy has saved this club. He simply has to be the greatest demon of them all.

Totally agree- an amazing human being.

And without RDB, Stynesy would still be in Ireland......

Never let the facts get in the way......

Albert Chadwick and Ivor Warne Smith should not be forgotten either as great players and administrators for the club.

Norm Smith and RDB are definitely up there.

Checker-Hughes is also part of the equation. He led the re-birth of Melbourne when he came across from Richmond and helped establish our period of greatness from '39 to Barassi's departure in '65.

Never let the facts get in the way......

Albert Chadwick and Ivor Warne Smith should not be forgotten either as great players and administrators for the club.

Norm Smith and RDB are definitely up there.

You can add the great Jimmy Cardwell too, Smithy's right hand man. And Checker Hughes is an often forgotten hero, who similarly turned the teams fortunes around after a long period of mediocrity.