Big Kid to Big Cat NICOLE ROACHE, MARKETING MANAGER
In one of his 13 or 14 interviews with AFL Clubs across the year, new Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell questioned Toby Conway’s (OGC 2021) humility. I think you’ll agree that it shines through as the big man speaks about his football future. Touted as the number one ruck prospect in the 2021 draft, in late November he found his football home with the Geelong Cats, taken at pick 24 in the 2021 National Draft. Not that it was a surprise to the pundits. Kevin Sheehan the AFL Talent Ambassador said of Toby. “He is a boy of 204cm who is really on track. He’s had a terrific year. The
Toby on the ground at his first training session with the Cats
18 Ad Astra Issue No 141
first number of games, before a break in the season, he was a very good player for the Falcons I like his ruck craft, he’s still developing that, he’s a very good mark around the ground, and he’s mobile, as big fellas have to be. I love the way he competes at ground level as well, the way he gets down to not just win the ball, but also to support the smaller players.” Toby is understandably excited about the opportunities ahead of him. “I couldn’t be happier really. Mitch Kevitt is a really good friend of mine too, so I am excited to be going there with him. I’ve had a lot of the players give me a call today and they’ve been really welcoming. I just can’t wait to get into it. We have training on Monday and a COVID-19 test tomorrow so I guess I’ll meet the players then as well which will be exciting. The Cats have done really well. I know Cooper Whyte as well from the Falcons and he, and Mitch are great players, so it’s looking good for the future.”
“In the next few years, I think I’ll just be pushing to be the best player I can be. I’m a pretty strong person at the moment as a young ruckman compared to where some others might be at my age, so I’ll just try and grow that, get my running up and work on my skills. It won’t be much different to other players I don’t think. I‘ll just be following orders… My development will be a bit delayed compared to the smaller blokes because ruckmen take a lot more time to reach their peak. I’ll just be trying to reach my potential as soon as possible.” No doubt the Cats saw strong qualities in Toby, as College Co-Vice Captain and Captain of the 1st XVIII. “I think as a person I am quite resilient. I’m good at overcoming adversity and that’s complemented by the balanced lifestyle I have. When footy isn’t going too well I’m able to find other things in my life that I can focus on and have a little bit of a break from footy, another outlet. I think that just adds to my footy.
