Geelong Advertiser | DECORATED local footballer Ricky O’Toole says he will make a decision about his future in December.
O’Toole, who coached his last game at East Geelong on Saturday, said he had not ruled out entering a 23rd season of senior footy.
“I haven’t made a decision yet, to be honest,” O’Toole told Wednesday Whispers.
“I’m going to decide over the summer. I’ll more than certainly stay at East Geelong if I’m playing.”
O’Toole, 37, said he will weigh up whether his body can stand the rigours of another season.
“That’s all it is,” he said.
“It’s whether I can put myself through another year, both mentally and physically. But now that I’m not coaching, I might be mentally a bit fresher.
“It will be nice to just have a couple of months off.”
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O’Toole, who debut as a 16-year-old in 1993, admitted he had contemplated retirement for the last three years but believed he was still able to make a contribution.
And he revealed his successor could play a big part in deciding his future.
“I’ll wait and see who coaches East Geelong and see if they want me to play,” he said.
“The club wants me to play, but it’s whether the new coach wants me to play.”
And if there’s no room for O’Toole at Richmond Crescent, he is likely to hang up the boots.
Asked if he would play elsewhere O’Toole replied: “I don’t think so”.
“I don’t think I would. I just think I’d retire.”