Jim Stynes Trophy
Jim Stynes Cup
The ten junior clubs which comprised the ACT Australian Football Junior League (ACTAFJL) conducted the inaugural Jim Stynes Cup at Ainslie Oval, Canberra, from 27 September to 2 October 1998. The event was run as a round robin competition in which three Australian teams and a team from South Africa competed for the Jim Stynes Cup, named in honour of the code's most famous international player.
Dr. Ross Smith, a former Brownlow Medallist and now head of Game Development at the AFL, coached the ACT team, and the best player of the competition was awarded the Ross Smith Medal, named in his honour. The best player in the final received the David Parkin Medal, named in appreciation of the assistance given by David Parkin to football development in the ACT.
Under 16 teams from Western Australia and the Northern Territory (Kormilda College) were invited, and the ACT squad comprised three nominees from each of the 10 ACTAFJL clubs. The visiting South African team played its first game of Aussie Rules in the opening round of the competition. Despite its lack of experience, the South African team improved remarkably and proved competitive. On their return, they established a junior competition in the North West Province of South Africa, secured sponsors and ordered 130 footballs.
Local junior Australian football clubs supported the event through billeting the visiting teams and in-kind support. Local players participated in a "march past" at the opening ceremony, and all officials were from the ACTAFJL.
As the competition was international, the organisers believed it was important to showcase its international and cultural aspects, so each of the visiting teams was invited to perform a traditional song or dance during the opening ceremony. The South African team performed some traditional songs and planted a tree in the gardens of their High Commission to commemorate a national day. The Kormilda College (NT) players performed an Aboriginal dance and the Australian Football Choir sang Australian songs, including "Up there Cazaly". Senator Margaret Reid bounced the ball to open the event, and all teams attended a tour and morning tea at Parliament House.
Results
ACT 11.22 (88) d. South Africa 0.1 (1) WA 7.12 (54) d. ACT 0.0 (0) NT 4.3 (27) d. ACT 3.6 (24) Consolation Final - ACT 11.10 (76) d. South Africa 3.1 (19)
Jim Stynes Trophy
Renamed the Jim Stynes Trophy, the event was held again from 9-15 July 2000, this time divided into two divisions. The Youth (Under 16) Division comprised a Samoan team and a "Rest of the World" team (an ACT team including five South African players), which competed against teams from the Northern Territory (Kormilda College) and the ACT. The full South African squad was unable to attend due to last minute funding problems in the North West Province.
The Junior (Under 14) Division comprised a USA team competing against teams from the ACT and Sapphire Coast (south west coast of NSW). The Junior Division teams included boys and girls and games were played under modified rules.
A week earlier the Farum Lions, a mixed junior team from Denmark, played practice matches against the ACT junior team. The Danes also played a match against the USA (although not officially a part of the Jim Stynes Trophy), defeating the Americans 7.3 (45) to 2.7 (19).
The Hon. Bob McMullan (Federal member for Fraser) officiated at the opening ceremony of the tournament, held at the Royal Military College in Duntroon. Highlights from the opening ceremony included cultural performances by the American, South African, Samoan and Kormilda College teams.
Throughout the competition AFL identities Ron Barassi, Paul Roos and David Parkin conducted coaching clinics. Former Brownlow medal winners Jim Stynes and Ross Smith attended the finals and medal presentations.
The Sapphire Coast team, who narrowly defeated the USA to progress to the final, won the junior division final by overcoming the ACT 11.6 (72) to 2.3 (15). All teams in the junior division were mixed.
The youth division final saw the Northern Territory's Kormilda College trounce the ACT 20.11 (131) to 4.9 (33).
The Seven Network, under Mr Kerry Stokes' direction, committed a significant amount of support and sponsorship. Part of this contribution saw a C7 Sport television crew from Sydney film the Jim Stynes Trophy tournament and a half hour documentary of the competition screened several times on C7 Sport.
Many friendships were formed during the competition. ACT players hosted opposition players in their homes, the Samoan team endeared themselves to the crowds (and intimidated their opponents) with a ritual war dance before each match, and the Kormilda College players impressed all with their footballing prowess. During rest periods, the Samoan Bulldogs team could regularly be heard singing from the grandstands as they watched other teams playing.
The American Revolution team caused a minor media sensation in the ACT when a rumour circulated in the Canberra Times that a Canberra businessman had paid a substantial sum for one of their popular and distinctive "Stars and Stripes" playing jumpers. However it was the high standard of football that the American players displayed on the field that attracted the most attention from observers at the ground.
Following the success of the 2000 competition, organisers of the Jim Stynes Trophy are now anticipating a much larger tournament involving as many as ten international teams in 2003. The city of Chicago has also expressed interest in hosting a future tournament.
Results - Junior Division
ACT 5.4 (34) d. USA 2.4 (16)
Results - Youth Division
Kormilda 7.2 (44) d. Samoa 2.8 (20) Kormilda 8.9 (57) d. ACT 3.4 (22) Rest of World 6.4 (40) d. Samoa 0.5 (5)
NT 7.14 (56) d. ACT 4.1 (25)
WA 17.12 (114) d. South Africa 0.1 (1)
NT 16.14 (100) d. South Africa 1.0 (6)
ACT 6.1 (37) d. South Africa 4.2 (26)
NT 6.9 (45) d. WA 2.2 (14)
WA 8.9 (57) d. South Africa 1.0 (6)
WA 7.13 (55) d. ACT 3.1 (19)
NT 18.16 (124) d. South Africa 1.1 (7)
WA 8.9 (57) d. NT 3.3 (21)
Jim Stynes Cup Final - NT 5.9 (39) d. WA 4.9 (33)
USA 1.6 (12) d. ACT 1.3 (9)
Sapphire Coast 5.5 (35) d. ACT 1.10 (16)
USA 2.2 (14) d. Sapphire Coast 1.1 (7)
ACT 2.5 (17) d. Sapphire Coast 1.6 (12)
Sapphire Coast 2.3 (15) d. USA 2.1 (13)
ACT 7.4 (46) d. Rest of World 3.2 (20)
Kormilda 8.8 (56) d. Rest of World 0.4 (4)
ACT 4.7 (31) d. Samoa 3.6 (24)
Rest of World 6.6 (42) d. ACT 2.0 (12)
Rest of World 4.4 (28) d. Samoa 1.8 (14)
Kormilda 12.3 (75) d. Samoa 3.1 (19)
Kormilda 9.6 (60) d. ACT 2.5 (17)
- Forward to Atlantic Alliance Cup
- Up to Aussie Rules the World
