I've been lucky enough to cover Bendigo footy for the Addy for the past 15 years.
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In that time I've had the pleasure of watching some greats of our league.
Oliver, Filo, Reaper, Ben Sexton, Bond, Aston and Saunders just to name a few.
One man who deserves to join that list is Matt O'Toole.
Earlier this week O'Toole announced he was leaving Golden Square to play a final season with his home club Ultima.
Five premierships and a Ron Best Medal should automatically guarantee O'Toole a place in the BFNL Hall Of fame.
However, statistics alone don't justify O'Toole's impact on the Golden Square Football Club.
Statistics alone don't justify O'Toole's impact on the Golden Square Football Club
If you took a straw poll of Golden Square's premiership players in the past five years on who was the most influential player at the club in that time, the overwhelming response would be Matt O'Toole.
Some footy fans would scoff at the suggestion that O'Toole could be regarded higher than Weeks, Rosa, Baird or Lloyd.
On the field, O'Toole's influence wasn't just about marks and goals.
He was the glue that kept Square's structure together.
He made other players better.
Off the field he inspired his teammates with a work rate that was second to none.
Four years ago O'Toole (pictured in 2012) was told by doctors not to play footy again after he suffered a serious ankle injury.
A love of the game and the enjoyment of playing alongside his mates outweighed hanging up his boots forever.
O'Toole's decision was Golden Square's gain.
Some insiders at Golden Square will tell you that the Bulldogs would not have won the 2012 premiership without O'Toole.
Arguably O'Toole's most endearing feature is his modesty.
In an era where a good percentage of players are happy to jump from club to club for extra cash, O'Toole played for pittance considering his output.
He could have demanded big money, but that's not the O'Toole way.
He never saw himself as the best centre half-forward in the league.
Bottom line is he was one of the best key forwards the BFNL has seen in the past 20 years.
As the Bulldogs prepare for season 2014, coach Nick Carter won't be asking himself "how do we replace Tooley?"
Carter knows all too well that you can't replace champions.