Black Rock mourns loss of favourite footy son Tim Sim

Every time Essendon’s Adam Saad bounced the ball in AFL games this year, Tim Sim made a donation to the Cancer Council. But the Black Rock Football Netball Club stalwart’s battle with ‘the bloody cancer’ is now over, after Sim passed away late last night.

Tim Sim needed less than 280 characters on Twitter to outline his struggle and the inevitable conclusion to it.

“To all my Twitter friends, my account will soon be closed as this bloody cancer has beaten me and I have a couple of weeks to live,’’ he wrote on November 4. “So, go @EssendonFC bring home those premierships and fans, keep supporting your team.’’

The Black Rock Football Netball Club stalwart finished his message with three hearts, two of them black, the other red, the colours of the Dons.

Tim Sim boots the Jets forward.

They’re also the colours he wore at the Jets, where he played more than 200 games.

Sim, 42, a teacher, died last night after a long battle with multiple myeloma.

He is survived by his wife Steph, and daughter Bonnie, aged just two-and-a-half.

A wingman and half forward who loved a goal and played with colour and charisma, he figured in Black Rock’s 2007 premiership and was a life member of the club.

His battle ended at 10:30pm last night, and his mate of almost 40 years, Damian Devola, said it was “kind of fitting” that it was Remembrance Day, as Sim “always had a sense of timing.”

Sim is remembered as an inexhaustible recruiter for his beloved club, in former president Nick MacMillan’s estimation bringing between 70 and 80 players to the Jets, including MacMillan through a mutual friendship.

The network spread and ultimately provided the club with about 6000 games of football, best and fairest winners, captains, presidents and life members, according to

“It all goes back to him being the first person who actually set foot in the door at Black Rock, and getting us all to come down for a kick of the footy,’’ Devola said.

Devola said Sim was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2009.

It started with an injury on the field: backing into a pack for Black Rock, he took a heavy hit in the back from teammate Luke Kirkland.

Tim Sim shared a coldie with his great mate Damian Devola.

As he struggled to get over it, he decided to go to his doctor.

Tests showed the blood cancer.

“It was making his bones brittle. It was kind of a blessing that he got hit from behind because otherwise it (his illness) would have gone undetected for longer and it would have hit him a lot harder, earlier,’’ Devola said.

“He beat it twice with the typical Timmy Sim positivity and resolve. Then this year some tumours developed, and despite extensive treatment, they have multiplied to the point where treatment is no longer a viable option.’’

Devola said the illness and the arrival of Stephanie in his life had turned Sim from a somewhat brash young man into “one of the most selfless and courageous people I know’’.

“No matter what issue he was facing, he would always set aside his own problems to support his mates,’’ he said.

Tim Sim donated money to the Cancer Council this year every time top Bomber Adam Saad bounced the ball.

This year Sim made donations to the Cancer Council for every bounce Essendon dasher Adam Saad made in AFL games.

He saw it as a way he could give something back in gratitude for the support he had received throughout his treatment.

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In the words of a group of friends who set up a gofundme page in support of the Sim family, “He has battled so bravely but always with a smile on his face and positive outlook — forever telling us to #tellyourlovedoneyoulovethem.

“Sadly his journey is coming to an end but we want to raise money for Steph and Bonnie and the legacy that will always be Tim Sim.

“Tim and Steph’s main focus is on Bonnie and making sure she is well looked after when Tim is not with us. There will be many tough days ahead for this family.’’

Friends are out to raise money for Bonnie’s future education and by last Thursday $64,815 had been donated, not far from the $75,000 goal.

Go to www.gofundme.com/tim-sim-for-steph-and-bonnie