Jim Stynes is one of the great AFL stories of all time.

• Irish born AFL footballer
• AFL Brownlow Medalist
• AFL  anti-racism officer
• Four time Melbourne Football Club Best and fairest winner
• AFL player’s association MVP winner (Leigh Matthews Trophy)
• Two time AFL All Australian
• 224 continuous AFL games (a league record)
• Melbourne Football Club President
• Charity worker for the youth Reach Foundation
• Author
• Order of Australia medal winner
• AFL Hall of Fame inductee
• Melbourne Football Club team of the century.

I can’t help but admire the achievements of the gallant, ruckman, workhorse, Jim E Stynes.

Stynes  is  one of the few AFL players who have commanded the respect of players and supporters of all clubs. You never hear of anyone having a bad word for Jim Stynes who achieved almost all there is to achieve in an AFL career. A fantastic effort for someone who was not brought up on our game, but adopted and conquered AFL Football in a 264 game, 130 goal career.

Everyone will recall the day he ran over the mark in the Preliminary Final at VFL Park to allow Gary Buckenara a 15 meter penalty for a goal after the siren to kick Hawthorn into the 1987 Grand Final.

Others will recall the day Stynes wore a hat in a pre-season game much to the amusement of all watching.

I have Jim Stynes’ autograph twice. One which says: “To Col, thanks for the hat – Best wishes, Jim Stynes” which proves this great man also has a sense of humour. I laugh every time I look at it. (Thanks to DGES WORLD FAMOUS FOOTY TIPPING COMP tipster, Pear for organizing this Jim Stynes autograph) The other says “To Colin. Go Dees, Jim Stynes”

Jim Stynes is a strong man of courage and principles. I read today with anguish the news that Jim Stynes has begun a new chapter in his life. The battle against Cancer.

On behalf of the DGES WORLD FAMOUS FOOTY TIPPING COMP, I extend our best wishes to Jim Stynes on his latest fight and for a speedy recovery. I’m sure he will draw on the strength and courage that has always served him so well to overcome his latest challenge.

A rant by Hooter

Funny how the league allow those scum bucket Blue baggers to wear a yellow jumper for cancer awareness, yet for the past 3-4 years have deprived Essendon from wearing yellow armbands to support a player suffering from cancer…now the parasites at the league are “100% behind” the cause and have a Cancer Awareness match between Essendon & Melbourne and allow armbands, no money to be made from armbands is there…….Demetriou and Anderson are in the same league as Hutchison…parasitic turds out to line their own nests…what the hell was Adrian Anderson before he bummed his way into this job…fark off league administrators…you sh1t me!!!! 

I was pleased for Melbourne to win their first match for the season. After all, not even I am vindictive enough to want the Dees to go through their 150^th season win-less.

(If it was Poor ol’ Footscray I wouldn’t give a stuff.)

Dees supporters enthusiastically reveled in the joy of hearing the news of their team’s remarkable Melbourne Cricket Ground comeback against that common team from the west, Fremantle. The Dees came back from 51 points down at half time to defeat those nasty Dockers by 6 points. The news soon spread around the snow fields that evening after being announced on the ABC at the Mt Hotham Chalet.

While sipping their mulled wine in front of the roaring fire, drying off the ski boots as Hobson polished the Range Rover and spare Bentleigh in the stables out the back, the Dees supporters soon were celebrating in earnest and re-living the good old days of Rob E Flower, Jim E Stynes and Greg E Healy.

“Another round of drinks and a toast to the new coach (whatever his name is)”

Now, as most of you will know, I am quite a lover of history and nostalgia.

In my search for great comeback matches to rival the heroic deeds of the gallant Dees of round 7 2008 AD, my memories took me back to Essendon v Melbourne, ANZAC DAY 25.4.1992 (yes the Bombers dominated ANZAC DAY – even back then).

On this particular day the Dees were 30 points up against Essendon at quarter time, 45 up at half time, 41 at ¾ time – the MCG member’s area was flowing with tea, scones and cream.

After kicking the first goal of the final term to be 47 points up, the Melbourne crowd was even beginning to huddle around the television set at the Chalet.

The sleeping giant however was awakening.

Those arrogant Bombers from that other side of town were slowly crawling their way back into the match.

Understandably Melbourne was always going to be in trouble since the Bombers that day boasted household names such as Flood, Considine, Sporn, Kilpatrick, Hills and Wallis.

When Somerville kicked his 3^rd and Salmon kicked his 7^th, the Bombers all of a sudden found themselves 5 points behind with minutes to go. Wanganeen then kicked a 55 metre goal to put those horrible Bombers 1 point ahead. Derek Kickett then saved the day by marking an attempted snap at goal on Melbourne’s goal line.

Poor ol’ Dees lost by a point in a touch of sadness.

The Bombers went on to win the flag the very next season and I expect no less from the Dees in season 2009.

(If only they would play the Grand Final at Mt Hotham).

Please enlighten us with your recollections of your own club’s memorable wins over Poor ol’ Melbourne (or anyone else for that matter).