Serious going.
Zach Tuohy has had a bit of luck but fortune favours the brave and the Portlaoise man has always shown a rare capacity to make the absolute most of it.
Lucky because he’s rarely if ever injured, but maybe that’s just a testament to his own dedication to ensuring that his body is so bullet-proof that it would take something extraordinary to see him sidelined.
A former Leinster minor championship winner with Laois, the 28-year-old made his move Down Under in 2008 and his has been a success story to top the majority of other Irish explorers of the AFL.
Last weekend, Tuohy reached a milestone in the AFL, so impressive that not only should it be celebrated in Ireland but also in Australia.
The Geelong Cats player made his 150th AFL appearance when his side took on Port Adelaide on Saturday evening. When you take into account that the majority of AFL players only make 90 appearances on average in their careers, that’s some going, and when you consider the amount left in the tank, it’s even more impressive.
Fellow Portlaoise man Colm Parkinson paid tribute to his club mate on Monday’s GAA Hour Hurling Show.
“He’s played his 150th AFL game. It’s some achievement, he’s played 120 games in a row.”
120 games in a row. Just let that sink in for a minute. Tuohy hasn’t been sick, hasn’t been injured, he’s been at his club’s beckon and call any time they need him.
“It’s beyond belief, but for Zach to go over there and play that amount of games, they reckon 90 is the average, even for Australian players so for Zach to be close to doubling that, and to go 120 without a break in such a physical game with such big men and such big hits, it’s unreal,” said Wooly.
“There’s no doubt that he’s a Portlaoise legend, not only for his performances on the field from Laois, but from being from Laois and for doing what he’s doing out there.”
This grit and fortitude doesn’t surprise Wooly, however. Tuohy is teak tough and he always keeps himself in serious nick. Without doubt he’s been a big loss to his home county.
“He would have been a Laois legend if he stayed because there are no real faults to his game at all. A real explosive player, he’s a natural at the game.”
The AFL doesn’t work out for all Irish GAA players. In recent years, we’ve seen Caolan Mooney, Ciaran Kilkenny, Paddy Brophy to name but a few return home without adapting to it. Tuohy’s transition has been seamless.
“It’s interesting that Pearce Hanley needs eight more games to reach the 150 club. He made his debut in 2008, Zach made his in 2011. It just goes to show how important being injury free is for a player.”
And his dog is called Wooly.
“An interesting one from Zach, he used to call his dog Wooly, after me, because he used to look up to me when he was younger. That’s the first time I’ve ever said that.”
This interview, after Saturday night’s game, just sums the man up, and will be a welcome watch particularly for Laois GAA fans.
Milestone man Zach Tuohy chats to @mattricho0 and Luke Darcy after his 150th game. 👏👏#AFLPowerCats #7AFL pic.twitter.com/rcvCs3gaZ4
— 7AFL (@7AFL) April 21, 2018
You can listen to Wooly’s ode to his fellow Laois man and much more from Monday’s GAA Hour Show here.
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