I could barely bring myself to write more than 3 sentences when I found out this morning, for fear I would burst into inconsolable tears at work.

Many many moons ago, I had the privilege to attend some Reach workshops through school, where I first met Jim. He was so inspirational, and moving, and it was the first and only time in my life where I saw so many vulnerable teenage souls open up, let go, smile. It really was a very spiritual experience, even for somebody like me who is not spiritual or religious.

Since then I have come across Jim several times, most recently at his favourite St Kilda restaurant about a year ago. I refused to bother him, but you could see, even through the illness, that his spirit was alive and well. He was laughing loudly and for some reason, that gave me enormous comfort.

His passing was sadly inevitable, but it also released him from years of pain, and suffering. A strong and spirited man like Jim did not deserve to have the physical life taken away from him, and I am sure he and his family were somewhat relieved when he let go. He is in peace now.

There are really no words that can do justice to the legacy that Jim leaves behind, nothing that can truly capture the lives he had touches, the people he had saved, or the gratitude we owe him for saving our beloved club.

Because of him, we will be able to take our kids and grand kids to watch Melbourne play, a privilege Jim no longer possesses.

He was a once in a generation footballer, and a once in a lifetime human being.

May you continue to look down on us always, because the hole you have left on this earth can surely never be mended.

Unable are the loved to die. For love is immortality. ~Emily Dickinson

Today i was driving a truck around melbourne and had sen on the radio and i could not stop crying everytime something about jim was said. This GREAT man is just someone that words cant express. He is and always will be the heartbeat of our club. In spirit he will be looking down over the M.C.G to see this great club that he saved holding our next cup and that flag will be for you BIG JIM. As a man if i can be just a bit like you i will be Happy your my hero and i love you. To sam and the kids we as melbourne will always be your family and i pray for you through this hard time. Finally to Jimmy R.I.P and know we will never forget what you have done for our club. Jimmy you are a legend and always will be a Melbourne demon 11. We will miss you mate the world has lost a great man. 20/03/2012

WE LOVE YOU JIMMY R.I.P

RIP Big Jim!

Thank you for 'Reaching out' when the club was in crisis! What an absolute awesome job you have done.

Thank you for the inspiration & memories. Your achievements in life are amazing!

And thank you for being you... You have touched the hearts of many.

You will always be remembered.

A true champion!!!

Condolences to the Stynes family, and all his friends...........RIP Jimmy, a great man has been lost today, but what a great life he lead, and what a legacy he has left the MFC!

How lucky we are as members and supporters to have had a such an amazing person a part of our club.

You will never be forgotton.

http://media.theage.com.au/sport/real-footy/jim-stynes-was-afls-greatest-story-3147395.html

This tribute for me is probably the best and that's certainly saying something given some wonderful tributes

Aside from all the sadness and heartaches we all feel so deeply. Jimmy for me along with Sean Wight were two of the best players I have seen post 1966 in key positions Ruck and defence. How bizarre to lose both champions, similar age, same origin, vintage and at comparatively similar times. A very very sad day!

Well, i've been avoiding it but... i'll miss you big fella... i love those dee's, and i love the mfc, and nothing symbolizes the MFC quite like J Stynes does.

Can' Wait to sing the grand ol flag

Rip jim.. you saved our great footy club from getting thrown out the door.

you will be never forgotten and always have a special place in all melbourne supporters hearts..

love you old mate

ps i will wear a black armband for you at my round one match for my local footy club.

My thoughts exactly. No amount of words can do justice to the man and his contribution to society, the game and our club.

RIP Jimmy

"Gone too soon........." The song Usher sang at Michael Jackson's funeral has been going around in my head all day, in between tears.

Gentleman Jim was not merely a human being, but a humane being, if only more were like him. But, as the saying goes "They broke

mould after he was born"

We forever love you Jim.

A superb human passed away-terribly sad for his family that he left so soon. RIP Jim you were everything I love about football.

A memo to the Melbourne Football Club :

Wear the Reach logo on our jumper with pride.....all year

just do it

nothing more needs to said really

+1 really like this, to the point that I will triple the number of memberships I buy to 11 if the club agrees to keep the reach logo

We love you and we will miss you Jimmy.

Thanks Jim. RIP

I could barely bring myself to write more than 3 sentences when I found out this morning......

Jaded I know what you mean. I still don't know how to express what I feel.

For a fair chunk of yesterday I've was going over favourite memories of Jim. I truly cannot think of anyone more universally admired.

Most of us will be feeling overwhelmingly sad and that's appropriate. But I hope that shortly I can start to celebrate the fact that Jim Stynes came to my footy club, to my city, to my country & gave so much of himself to all

For more than a death to be mourned, Jim's is a life to be celebrated

RIP Big Jimma

"These Days" by Powderfinger just made me cry again. Never forgotten Jimma.

Strangely, I think Jimmy has left us with one left parting gift. A gift that we will only come to realise in the years to come. Club unity and identity. He has made the jumper and the red and blue the most famous in the land at this hour. The story of his feats will be told forever more and the MFC is a huge part of that.

Hearing the story of Chris Connolly on AFL last night that many many past players had gathered in St Kilda last night shows his power and influence to bring people back together. He started the mission to bring this club back together and achieve it he has.

Thank you Jimma, we will miss you but never ever forget you...You have put the MFC on the map again. If the players on the current list dont follow the 'whatever it takes' approach they dont' deserve to pull on the jumper.

Just Purchased the Reach Footy Jumper from the Demon shop and the Jim Stynes DVD..

Your spirit shall be worn with pride forever Jimma..Keep on shining.

Now that the news has sunk in a little bit I took the time to send a message to the Stynes family through the melbournefc website. I thought I'd share it:

Jimmy was a childhood hero of mine. My Dad and I used to go to every Melbourne game in Victoria to see him and the Demons play. When my mum passed away of cancer when I was still quite young, going to the MCG and watching Stynes and the Demons play really helped my family get through some tough times.

After the Demons one point victory over the Lions in 2008 I was lucky enough to go down to the rooms and meet the great Jim Stynes. It was pretty crowded down there with all the players' parents in attendance. Jim took the time to have a long conversation with my Dad and I, and you could tell that despite the mass of people that he probably wanted to talk to more, he still listened to everything we had to say and humoured a couple of starstruck fans. He radiated a sort of charm that cannot really be put into words, and I feel privileged to be able to say that I got to meet such an incredible person.

Jimmy may be gone, but he will live on through the impressions that he made on every person that he met.

Nice words GTG. Jimmy is still with us, i have no doubt.

I too posted the following

"The true worth of a man is not to be found in the man himself, but in the measure of those that surround him and consider themselves lucky to be called his friend . Is it any wonder than that Jim had so many, many, friends

Though Jim has gone his inner fire lives on and has been passed on through him to all of us, in our own hearts in some ways rekindling our inner spirit within us.

Jim showed, not only, what we as men are capable of, but also that we are capable of so much more then we think we are.

Never has a man given so much of himself not only to his Club, his friends and his Family but to our community as a whole

From one MFC Family to another our condolences to Sam and her Children,

To the MFC and all its supporters, we have all lost a true Champion a man truly worthy of being called a Hero.

In our current times it is unusual to find somone who puts themselves before others such as Jim did.

Jim, may you rest in Peace you are with us all always in our hearts."

The tributes here on this forum and in all the guest books all over Australia that people are signing from all walks of life confirms this .

The MFC club and we as supporters have truly been blessed as well as priveledged to have known Jim and to able to remember him with such fondness

There is no doubt he will be sorely missed bu us all

SEN have reported that funeral will be on Tuesday 27th at St Paul's with broadcast in Fed Square.

St Paul's seems odd. Jim was a Catholic (not that he cared much) but would have thought his family would have. St Pat's seems more appropriate.

Dean Bailey press conference is posted over on 'ology

We can have our opinions on Bailey the coach but the man is a class act.

Wrote an article on the great man today - http://www.backpagelead.com.au/afl/6028-the-club-that-jim-rebuilt

What a legend. RIP

The Jim Stynes Tribute Hour

http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/7415/newsid/131180/default.aspx

For those Demon Supporters in Perth, The Western Demons are having a memorial mass for Jim at St Josephs Church in Subiaco this Sunday March 25th 10.00am 2012.