AFL CHIEF executive Andrew Demetriou says the League is planning to honour former Melbourne player and president Jim Stynes, who died on Tuesday morning after a long battle with cancer.

It remains unclear what form the honour will take - it may be an annually awarded medal - or when the details will be announced.

"Obviously it's been announced that there will be a State funeral," Demetriou said.

"We'll be liaising with the Melbourne Football Club, the State Government and, of course, Jim's family."

Demetriou praised Stynes' enormous contribution to the game.

"He's inspired other Irish lads to come out, he's inspired so many other people through his efforts on the football field," Demetriou said.

"But he's also inspired so many people off the football field, particularly with what he's done with Reach, with youth; the fact that he believed he could change people for the better and give people a second chance.

"And what he's done for the Melbourne Football Club, I think will be long be remembered in a turning point in the club's long and proud history.

"I can the remember the meeting when Jim came to my office and said he was contemplating taking on the presidency because he was almost despairing about what was going on.

"I told him he was crazy, but I sort of knew then that it was exactly the sort of challenge that he wanted.

"He formed an excellent board, restructured the club, rebuilt the club, retired the debt.

"It's an incredible legacy for the Melbourne Football Club."

The Stynes family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to either The Jim Stynes Future Fund or Peter Mac Cancer Foundation.