[1] O'Toole, a ruckman from Ultima, was a member of Melbourne's 1949 reserves premiership team.

The following year he made four appearances in the seniors and then returned to the Ultima Football Club, as captain-coach.

[2][3] He spent the 1954 football season with Swan Hill, whom he captain-coached.

[4] In 1955 he made his way to Goulburn Valley Football League club Rushworth and won that year's Morrison Medal while acting as coach.

[5] When his employment with the Victoria Police Force brought him to Rochester he was appointed captain-coach of the town's Bendigo Football League side, the Rochester Tigers.