The 1990 and 1994 Melbourne best-and-fairest winner spoke passionately about his former teammate and close friend during the club's Debt Demolition dinner at the MCG on Wednesday night.
"He was the worst football player in the competition when he came to Melbourne," Lyon said, before adding that Stynes' hallmarks as a player were his self-belief and durability.
"He couldn't mark, he couldn't kick, [but] he could run.
"He was ugly, [had] pale skin and you reckon Liam Jurrah doesn't speak English that well – well, you should've heard Jimmy when he got here … and he ended up becoming the best player in the competition.
Lyon said Stynes remains an extraordinary competitor.
"In the end, he's respected, not only for what he did on the field, but off the field.
"He's a wonderful, wonderful person, Jimmy. I don't think I appreciated it as much as I did when I playing with him and I've come to appreciate it over a period of time."
The former Melbourne captain couldn't speak highly enough of Stynes' generosity.
"It'd be a brave man that could stand up and say: 'I've given more than Jim Stynes', so he's within his rights to ask," Lyon said.
Stynes was unable to attend the Debt Demolition as he is recovering from post-cancer surgery in Thailand.
"We're missing his energy and when someone's not here, you tend to appreciate them even more," Lyon said.
"He's facing a fight – a life and death fight – and that's no bulls--t," he added.
"That's the truth and the reality."
