James started his senior career at the age of just 14, when Williamstown coach Terry Wheeler picked him for the 1985 VFA Grand Final, despite having spent the entire season in the Under-19s.
Affectionately known as Ronnie, he joined Footscray in 1987 but struggled to establish a place for himself in the team, managing only 16 games in three seasons.
A rover, James received his only Brownlow Medal vote for his 17 disposals in a win over the Brisbane Bears at Western Oval in 1988.
[1] At the age of 19, James was killed in a water skiing accident near Echuca on New Year's Day 1990.
Wheeler, his former coach at Williamstown, had joined Footscray for the 1990 AFL season and was later quoted as saying James could have been a 150 or 200 game player.