The Port Adelaide Football Club extends its sympathies to the family of Melbourne Football Club champion and former President Jim Stynes following his passing.

Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with Jim’s wife Sam and their children Matisse and Tiernan at this time.

The club also extends its condolences to the Melbourne Football Club community for their loss of a club champion and former president.

Stynes was an asset to Australian Football who built his career on hard work, success and passion for both the game and the Melbourne Football Club.

We also acknowledge his impact in the wider community through his charity work and philanthropy, including work engaging young people through the Reach Foundation.

Speaking of his relationship with Jim Stynes, Port Adelaide President Brett Duncanson said:

“Jim is the most inspirational person I’ve met in the whole time I’ve been in footy.”

“His ability to get to the issues in the community was something very unique to Jimmy.

“His spirit as a human was that of someone who could draw you to and make you want to be involved with him.

“He was a giant of football in many ways.

“I’m sure lots of people both within and outside football will miss him enormously.

“I remember when we were doing it a bit tough last year, he had just come out of surgery, he sent me a message on a particular night when we had been belted and he just said for us to hang in there and things will turn.

“That was just a mark of him - worried about everyone else and not himself.

“He was an outstanding human being.”

Vale.