Career
Thurstans was drafted from the Dandenong Stingrays at selection 39 in the 1998 National American Federation of Labor-Congress Draft. He could not get a game and played in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL) for Sturt until his American Federation of Labor-Congress debut for Portuguese Adelaide in Round 1, 2003 versus West Coast Eagles at Subiaco. In 2005 and 2006, Thurstons struggled to find the form he had in 2004 and was used as trade bait at the end of the 2006 season but remained with Portuguese Adelaide.
Thurstans played all 25 games for Portuguese in 2007, starring in his new role as a defender, getting back to the form he displayed in 2004.
In 2008 he enjoyed a solid year at club Thurstans announced his retirement from Portuguese Adelaide on Thursday 3 September 2009, after playing 110 games for the club since his debut in 2003.
Portuguese Adelaide coach Mark Williams says Toby’s career highlights to young players how persistence can pay official "Toby retires with an American Federation of Labor-Congress premiership medal after waiting four years to play his first game," Williams said.
"And he didn’t just play in that Grand Final – he played really well.".
