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Retiring Toia pays tribute to Freo
9:21:28 PM Tue 2 September, 2003
Mic Cullen
afl.com.au
In many ways, it was a vintage Luke Toia performance - partly serious and concentrating on the job at hand, but a lot of it cheeky and irreverent.
The nuggety utility announced his impending retirement on the eve of Fremantle’s first-ever finals campaign, saying he was doing it because he wanted to wish them well whole-heartedly.
Toia broke his neck in 2001 in the WAFL when his legs were taken out from under him while flying for a mark, and he said he felt like he was jinxed to a certain degree, but also very fortunate.
“In some ways, yes, but … I was unlucky but very lucky, and that’s how I’ve looked at it for the last two years – things could have been a lot worse,” he said on Tuesday before training.
“I’ve had nine years – I’ve been at a club that’s … I got here when I was 16 years of age - I thought I knew everything, but quickly found out from Gerard (Neesham, Fremantle’s first coach) that I didn’t – I was here from a 16 year old, and the club shaped me as a person, both with football and how I played football, and how I’ll enter my new career after football.
“I was saying to Chris (Connolly) today that I was just sitting in the stands hoping they’d lose – it was just a **** attitude, and I was at the stage where I had to reply on poor form and injury.”
“I see Troy Cook – and I’m really, really upset for Cookie – possibly the hardest player I’ve ever played with, against or seen – and the poor bloke misses out on the finals.”
“He put his heart and soul into pre-season and the club since he’s got here, and it’s … I didn’t want to reply on that, I didn’t want players to have to go through that for me to step up and get a game.”
“I want to go to the footy and I want to support the Fremantle Footy Club – I don’t want to have to not barrack for them. That’s why Friday, I just feel that we need everything going for us… I just think it’s a great time for the club, and I’m really excited about the next part of it.”
Toia, who played 63 games for the club, said he would be seeing a neurologist next week in relation to complications with his neck injury, but praised the work of club doctor Ken Withers and especially the efforts of the reclusive but brilliant club physiotherapist Jeff Boyle.
“Jeff Boyle and Ken Withers have been exceptional, especially Jeff – Jeff deserves a lot of credit for what he’s done in this place over a long period of time.”
“He’s a great personality, a great bloke and there’s a lot of players here that owe a lot of their career to the medical staff.”
Connolly said Toia wouldn’t be given a send-off this week at Friday night’s final because he was still a listed player and could still play if the club was struck with injuries.
Congratulations to the champ in Luke Toia on announcing his retirement.
Neck and shoulder problems remain with him and he will be missed by everyone.
9:21:28 PM Tue 2 September, 2003
Mic Cullen
afl.com.au
In many ways, it was a vintage Luke Toia performance - partly serious and concentrating on the job at hand, but a lot of it cheeky and irreverent.
The nuggety utility announced his impending retirement on the eve of Fremantle’s first-ever finals campaign, saying he was doing it because he wanted to wish them well whole-heartedly.
Toia broke his neck in 2001 in the WAFL when his legs were taken out from under him while flying for a mark, and he said he felt like he was jinxed to a certain degree, but also very fortunate.
“In some ways, yes, but … I was unlucky but very lucky, and that’s how I’ve looked at it for the last two years – things could have been a lot worse,” he said on Tuesday before training.
“I’ve had nine years – I’ve been at a club that’s … I got here when I was 16 years of age - I thought I knew everything, but quickly found out from Gerard (Neesham, Fremantle’s first coach) that I didn’t – I was here from a 16 year old, and the club shaped me as a person, both with football and how I played football, and how I’ll enter my new career after football.
“I was saying to Chris (Connolly) today that I was just sitting in the stands hoping they’d lose – it was just a **** attitude, and I was at the stage where I had to reply on poor form and injury.”
“I see Troy Cook – and I’m really, really upset for Cookie – possibly the hardest player I’ve ever played with, against or seen – and the poor bloke misses out on the finals.”
“He put his heart and soul into pre-season and the club since he’s got here, and it’s … I didn’t want to reply on that, I didn’t want players to have to go through that for me to step up and get a game.”
“I want to go to the footy and I want to support the Fremantle Footy Club – I don’t want to have to not barrack for them. That’s why Friday, I just feel that we need everything going for us… I just think it’s a great time for the club, and I’m really excited about the next part of it.”
Toia, who played 63 games for the club, said he would be seeing a neurologist next week in relation to complications with his neck injury, but praised the work of club doctor Ken Withers and especially the efforts of the reclusive but brilliant club physiotherapist Jeff Boyle.
“Jeff Boyle and Ken Withers have been exceptional, especially Jeff – Jeff deserves a lot of credit for what he’s done in this place over a long period of time.”
“He’s a great personality, a great bloke and there’s a lot of players here that owe a lot of their career to the medical staff.”
Connolly said Toia wouldn’t be given a send-off this week at Friday night’s final because he was still a listed player and could still play if the club was struck with injuries.
Congratulations to the champ in Luke Toia on announcing his retirement.
Neck and shoulder problems remain with him and he will be missed by everyone.
