He played Australian Rules football for Melbourne for thirteen years
(1986-1999) and captained the Melbourne Demons for six years
(1991-1997). He played 226 games and achieved All Australian selection
three years in a row (1993-1995).
"There was a lesson to be learned by watching him...He knew he had this
one strength. He knew that his capacity to run, combined with his
height, made him a valuable asset. You see a lot of players go through
the system with these great gifts but they've got no idea how to use
them. That couldn't be said about Jimmy..." (regarding his former
team-mate, Jim Stynes)