The road to 100 games for Big Jules Toohey may be one of the longest in club history; it’s also a rich Marcellin Old Collegians Football Club story.
It started way back in 1983 when his old man Peter “Stretch” Toohey (Life Member 1981) brought him as an infant to his first Marcellin Old Boys game. Stretch was retired from playing yet still heavily involved with the MOCFC, he is well respected and known figure through the early years of the club.
Next, it would be remiss of me not to mention the importance of 1989 … the year the Toohey clan moved into club legend Tim Naughton’s Balwyn unit while their house was being built. What a testament to Timmy and Stretch, their relationship and the culture and mate ship the Marcellin Old Collegians Football Club has been built on.
It wasn’t until 2001 that Jules first opened his games tally, playing a handful of Under 19 games in the back end of the season while still completing Year 12 at the College. Following on in 2002 with a full year of Under 19’s, playing in the 3-point Semi-Final loss to Old Brighton (who went on to be Premiers). He was a pivotal figure in a 2pt win against Old Xavs at Vic Park – coming at a time of significant rivalry with those Toorak Park Toads.
2003 was the big fellas first year of Reserves footy. After playing most of the season, Jules was hit by the omission stick and dropped for the Semi-Final. He wasn’t the only big name on the sideline, I joined him after also being dropped for that game. Clearly we were destined for greater things in the Thirds. The team went on to lose a tight fought Grand Final to St Bernard’s.
2004-2009 saw the big fella take a break from the club and pursue some other interest, travel, basketball, baseball and he even pulled the boots and got some country footy exposure for Wycheproof-Narraport. Truth be told he followed a “Uni Friend” to the town with not much else to do on the weekend.
It wasn’t until 2010 when Jules returned from London and caught up on some MOCFC email Newsletters and realised the club was struggling in Premier that he decided to see if the Thirds needed a hand. After a quick email to then President Mick Howard, Jules was quickly thrown into the Reserves ruck. He hasn’t looked back, even after a few years of continual beltings.
I have had the privilege of playing a lot of footy with Jules since 2011 under the expert tutelage of the likes of Tommy Money, Swimmer and now Koach Kofe. We have played in finals campaigns, lost a Grand Final and doing pretty well this year. When asked to write this up, I started to reflect on the footy we have played together and realised that ultimately, footy aside, he is just a ripping bloke. He is a very large man, yet calm, approachable but don’t let this fool you he is as competitive as they come with unbeatable dukes. He is the first bloke to put his hand up to help, either sweeping the rooms, doubling up and playing two’s or offering encouragement on and off the field.
Congratulations on reaching 100 games mate, glad I can be part of it.
Just to sign off I wanted to include a quote from the big guy, it sums up the club pretty well and is the reason Fossils like Jules and I keep coming back year after year.
“I am glad I returned to play with MOCFC. Sentiment did have a bit to do with coming back after the old man died and I have no doubt if he was still here, Kofe would have a timekeeper or a goal umpire each week, as the old man loved the place.
The club feels younger and is ambitious this time around, which is great. The club is incredibly welcoming, be it people who are in their early 20s to blokes who played with the old man”.
Dusty Cracknell
