Bernard Toohey

1986-1991
129 games
76 goals
All-Australian 1987
Leading Goalkicker 1989

Bio

In a quiet, tucked-away corner of southern New South Wales lies one of the state's hidden gems. The township of Barooga, found on the northern banks of the mighty Murray River, is where the Tooheys lived for generations. Vin Toohey won eight best and fairest awards for the Barooga Football Club, and before long, his eldest son Bernard forged his own path.

Attending primary school in nearby Finley brought him in contact with fellow Swans Hall of Famer David Murphy. The pair met as five-year-olds and later became teammates in Sydney. Toohey enjoyed an active childhood filled with footy and river activities.

Before long, Toohey made an impression on the region's sporting fields. Football emerged as his primary passion, and with Barooga positioned in Geelong's residential recruiting zone, the young defender joined the Cats as a 17-year-old in 1980. His arrival paled in significance to that of Sandover Medalist Brian Peake who landed on Kardinia Park via helicopter, but Toohey made an impression, debuting against Richmond on Anzac Day the following year.

"That was a special day," Toohey recalled. "Mum, Dad, and my brothers and sisters were all there, but the problem was Mum and my two sisters are mad Richmond supporters, so I'm not sure which camp they were in."

That family flavour strengthened when Bernard's younger brother Gerard joined him at the Cats in 1985. Unfortunately, a previous indiscretion saw the older sibling suspended while Gerard played his only senior VFL match. During that season, Toohey received a visit from his former Finley classmate, David Murphy, now playing with the Swans. Despite playing in different states, they regularly kept in touch.

"Murph came down and stayed with me that year. We had no idea what was going to happen later on, but I remember him saying to me, 'You'd look good in red and white'," Toohey said.

Toohey enjoyed the country-town vibe of Geelong and reflects fondly on his time at the Cats. Nonetheless, when Dr Geoffrey Edelsten appointed Tom Hafey as the Swans' coach, they met Toohey, Greg Williams, David Bolton, and Andrew Bews at Melbourne's Rialto Hotel to discuss a potential move north. For all except Bews, Sydney's harbour lights appealed, and after 94 games in the hoops, Toohey was about to test Murphy's hypothesis.

"It was a big move. It's such a different environment up in Sydney. There was a huge cost-of-living difference even back then. It was exciting; we were part of setting that foundation in attracting a new, core group of supporters and becoming pioneers of the national competition," Toohey said.

In an instant, the introduction of a host of recruits changed the club's ambitions. Along with Toohey, Williams, and Bolton, Gerard Healy from Melbourne, Merv Neagle from Essendon, and Jim Edmond from Footscray all joined. Hafey packed a regime in his kitbag that had delivered four premierships at the Tigers, and these Swans trained hard. With a lack of adequate facilities still plaguing the club, Toohey, Bolton, and assistant coach Craig Davis strapped on the tool belts and built a new gym themselves.

In 1986, the team developed an entertaining style of football and began attracting large crowds to the SCG. Prime Minister Bob Hawke was the club's number one ticket holder, and for the first time since relocating, the Swans were the hottest ticket in town. They performed brilliantly in securing second place behind eventual premiers Hawthorn but lost two tightly contested finals to Carlton and Fitzroy.

Ahead of the finals, 23-year-old Toohey told The Football Record, "Playing in defence takes a lot of concentration. You have to play it tight and still be able to bounce into attack whenever the opportunity arises. I now regard myself as a specialist in the position and want to establish myself as the best half-back flanker in the League".

He developed into one of the competition's toughest and most durable defenders, excelling during the 1987 season. Toohey represented Victoria and won selection alongside Swans teammates Greg Williams, Gerard Healy and Craig Holden in the All-Australian team. For three weeks mid-year, the Swans were untouchable, becoming the only team in history to kick 30 goals or more three weeks in a row.

"We were on fire during those weeks; it almost felt effortless, really," Toohey recalled. "We had guys like Merv Neagle cutting through packs; the way he could move was unbelievable, and the way Dennis Carroll and Mark Bayes were delivering the ball was great to watch."

Powerfully built and versatile, Toohey provided the team with the defensive dependability from which offensive drives originate. The Swans finished in third position, but two heavy finals defeats brought their 1987 campaign to an abrupt halt.

When selectors chose the New South Wales State of Origin team for the bicentennial carnival in 1988, Swans players formed the nucleus of the side. Toohey played a critical role in NSW's first-ever win against Western Australia. Two years later, he contributed to the state's most famous victory over Victoria on a mud-soaked SCG.

Nicknamed 'Huck', Toohey demonstrated tremendous adaptability in claiming the club's leading goalkicker award in 1989 after spending the second half of the season at full-forward. Memorably, he kicked eight goals in a stirring comeback victory over Essendon, when he kicked the final three goals of the match in a frantic three-minute burst. Sadly, though, he never received the trophy. "I've been told they thought it was a bit embarrassing at the time to have a backman who'd kicked 29 goals as the leading goalkicker, so they didn't present the trophy."

"We have a laugh about it now. I'm still waiting for that trophy to be delivered, but I suppose having my name alongside Lockett, Hall, and Franklin isn't too bad," Toohey laughed.

Toohey describes the 1989, 1990 and 1991 seasons as 'long years' in which the success of '86 & '87 seemed a distant memory. The club, now battling for survival, were on their knees and at the end of the '91 season, Toohey returned to Victoria, playing the 1992 & 1993 seasons with Footscray. He retired with 263 League games and a reputation as one of the most formidable defenders of his era.

Long-time Swans historian Jim Main described Toohey as "hard as teak" and said, "When the Swan in the number 15 guernsey attacked the ball, it meant self-preservation for the opposition."

Toohey cherishes his connection and describes his induction into the Swans Hall of Fame in 2020 as one of his greatest achievements. "I was really rapt. I had my wife and kids with me; they were all stoked to see me get inducted, and we had a great night. I gave all I could in my six years at the Swans, and I'm very proud to be in the Hall of Fame with so many other great players."

After retiring from the AFL, Toohey spent three seasons with Wodonga in the Ovens & Murray League before returning home. His Dad convinced him to play the 1997 season with Barooga, and a wonderful career was punctuated by kicking 66 goals from full-forward in a highly treasured premiership with his hometown club.

A humble champion, Toohey gave great service to all clubs he represented, respected wherever he went, and he sits comfortably among the best the Swans have had.