Dandenong Stingrays/Crib Point
VSFL
Carlton (1998)
Collingwood (1998)
AFL
Port Adelaide (1999-2009)
Toby Thurstans was a former Port Adelaide Power player and a former Sturt player from 2002 - 2009.
Football Career[]
SANFL[]
Thurstans played for Sturt Football Club, playing in the 2002 SANFL Grand Final as a defender and the 2009 loss to Central District.
AFL[]
2003 - 2004[]
Thurstans played his first game against West Coast in Round 1 2003 where he racked up 8 disposals. Thurstans 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 AFL 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.
2005 - 2009[]
Thurstans struggled to find form in 2005 and 2006 and was used for trade bait at the and of the 2006 season. Thurstans announced his retirement from Port Adelaide on Thursday 3 September 2009, after playing 110 games for the club since his debut in 2003. Thurstans retired 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 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."
Achievements[]
SANFL Premier: 2002
AFL Premier: 2004
Best First Year Player (Port Adelaide): 2003
Sources[]
www.Portadelaidefc.com.au
www.footywire.com.au