This week’s local living legend of league football is John Toll from Gunbower. Having received invitations from Melbourne, Carlton, Essendon and Richmond, John admits that he chose Melbourne because they were the same colours as Gunbower. John played two games for Melbourne before being injured in a Reserves game and returned home.

How did you get discovered?

In ’65, we [Gunbower] won the flag and then in ’66 I won the local Best and Fairest. Then ’67 I had several clubs chasing me. I decided Melbourne would be the one to go to. We had pre-season practice matches and went alright in those, then the first game came around, and they selected me on the bench as 19th man. I went on at half time and went alright actually. 

Why/what did you enjoy?

I always loved footy, we