Toby Thurstans
Encyclopedia
Toby Thurstans is a former Australian Rules footballer for Port Adelaide Football Club
and plays at Centre half forward or in defense.
at selection 39 in the 1998 National AFL Draft. He could not get a game and played in the SANFL for Sturt
until his debut for Port in Round 1, 2003 v West Coast Eagles
at Subiaco
. Toby won Port's best first year player award for season 2003. The following season he played all 25 games, kicked 28 goals, played in the 2004 Grand Final and was one of three players to kick three or more goals in Port's 40 point Grand Final win over the Brisbane Lions
.
Port Adelaide coach Mark Williams
says Toby’s career highlights to young players how persistence can pay off.
“Toby retires with an AFL premiership medal after waiting four years to play his first game,” Williams said. “And he didn’t just play in that Grand Final – he played really well."
Port Adelaide Football Club
The Port Adelaide Football Club is an Australian rules football club based in Alberton, South Australia, which plays in the Australian Football League and the South Australian National Football League...
and plays at Centre half forward or in defense.
Early Career (2003-2004)
Thurstans was drafted from the Dandenong StingraysDandenong Stingrays
The Dandenong Stingrays are an Australian rules football team in a Victorian under 18s league called the TAC Cup.1992 saw the birth of the ‘Southern Stingrays’ and they were developed under the leadership of Steve Kennedy and Ron Roach with the home base located at the Ben Kavanagh Reserve,...
at selection 39 in the 1998 National AFL Draft. He could not get a game and played in the SANFL for Sturt
Sturt
Sturt is a surname, and may refer to:* Charles Sturt , an English explorer of Australia* George Sturt , an English writer on rural crafts and affairs who also wrote under the pseudonym George Bourne* Henry Sturt, 1st Baron Alington...
until his debut for Port in Round 1, 2003 v West Coast Eagles
West Coast Eagles
The West Coast Eagles are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League. The club is based in Perth, Western Australia. The club was founded in 1986 and played its first games in the 1987 season. Its current home ground is Subiaco Oval...
at Subiaco
Subiaco Oval
Subiaco Oval , known colloquially as Subi, is the highest capacity sports stadium in Perth, Western Australia...
. Toby won Port's best first year player award for season 2003. The following season he played all 25 games, kicked 28 goals, played in the 2004 Grand Final and was one of three players to kick three or more goals in Port's 40 point Grand Final win over the Brisbane Lions
Brisbane Lions
The Brisbane Lions is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Brisbane, Queensland. The club was formed from the merger of the Brisbane Bears and the Fitzroy Lions in 1996...
.
Career Low (2005-2006)
In 2005 and 2006, Toby struggled to find the form he had in 2004 and was used as trade bait at the end of the 2006 season but was lucky to stay at the club.Career High (2007-2008)
Thurstans played all 25 games for Port in 2007, starring in his new role as a defender, getting back to the form he displayed in 2004. In 2008 he enjoyed a solid year at club.Retirement
Thurstans announced his retirement from Port Adelaide Power on Thursday 3 September 2009, after playing 110 games for the club since his debut in 2003. Toby retires as a Life Member of the Port Adelaide Football Club, citing his decision to retire had been coming for a while, despite some good form throughout the 2009 season:“The mental and physical rigours of an AFL season demand so much, and I am not the sort of person who is going to go on unless I think I can contribute 100 percent."Port Adelaide coach Mark Williams
Mark M. Williams
Mark "Choco" Williams is a former Australian rules footballer who coached the Port Adelaide Football Club in the Australian Football League from 1999 to 2010...
says Toby’s career highlights to young players how persistence can pay off.
“Toby retires with an AFL premiership medal after waiting four years to play his first game,” Williams said. “And he didn’t just play in that Grand Final – he played really well."