Selected with the Cats first pick in last year’s rookie draft, the 20-year-old seems to have the best of both worlds: brains and brawn, which has led him on an interesting journey to the AFL.
In 2011, Toohey was dux of St Kevin’s College, in inner-eastern Melbourne, and was subsequently honoured with a Premier’s Award, which recognises the top VCE students in Victoria.
He was still only 17 when he graduated.
In 2012 he began a science degree at Melbourne University, majoring in biochemistry, whilst also playing for the Oakleigh Chargers in the TAC Cup.
Last year, whilst continuing his studies, and footy with the Chargers (where he later went on to win the Best and Fairest), Toohey was a resident at St Mary’s College, living with 150 other young Melbourne Uni students.
Toohey admitted the college lifestyle was a far cry from that of an AFL player.
“Obviously that life is pretty different, there’re a lot of late nights and you’ve got to work out when to prioritise study and footy and that kind of thing,” Toohey said.
“It was an awesome experience and something that meant there was a bit of a change when I got drafted because suddenly, you’re in a host family and you’ve got people watching over your every move, whereas at college you’re just free,” Toohey said.
Just when you thought he couldn’t get anymore impressive, Toohey revealed he has potential plans to study medicine post-football.
“I’m majoring in biochemistry at the moment so yeah, that’s pretty open to research and all that boring stuff, but I find it quite interesting, and yeah maybe medicine” Toohey said.
Not only is he a talented footballer, Toohey was also a very successful tennis player and cricketer at school, so he likes to revisit the sports when he can.
“On days off I go back to Melbourne, try and see some friends, have dinner, and play a bit of tennis because I miss that.
“And just try and relax because I’m obviously trying to build up my fitness and recovery’s definitely needed when you’re a first year,” Toohey admitted.
Toohey’s parents both teach at St Kevin’s, which begs the question of whether they encouraged him to pursue academics more so than AFL?
“No no, they honestly just let me make my own decisions. They’re from a rugby background anyway so they were trying to push me into that from an early age,” Toohey said amid laughter.
But of course, Toohey’s passion for football is the driving force in his life at the moment, and his balancing act over the past few years has certainly paid off.
“When (I didn’t get drafted) in 2012 I just kept studying and kept my footy balance right.
“I think it’s worked out well in the end, because I was able to experience life as a non-footballer as well and have a bit of fun, rather than just going straight into this structured lifestyle that all these players have gone straight out of school into,” Toohey said.
Given he was two years into his degree, I asked James whether he had at all given up on football as a career?
“I always kept hopeful,” Toohey said.
“I’d sort of worked out that if I didn’t get drafted last year, I’d probably play in the VFL and still chip away for the next couple of years and see if I could get picked up before I made that decision,” Toohey said.
At 197cm, the key-position prospect has been compared to Essendon’s Jake Carlisle thanks to his strong mark and ability to play forward or back.
“Yeah I think we’re similar, same sort of height and can play at either end which is what, I think, allowed me to get drafted in the end, that versatility,” Toohey said.
“I like to model myself on Jarrad Roughead from Hawthorn (because of) his ability to push forward and also through the midfield, which is (an ability that) I don’t have yet, but we’ll see if I can get there,” Toohey said smiling.
As far as a preferred position goes, Toohey’s just keen to be out there, regardless which end of the ground.
“Probably up forward at the moment, I’ve started to get the hang of things in the VFL… But obviously I like both ends, the coach can swing me forward or back, I’m not complaining,” Toohey said.
