Portlaoise legend Zach Tuohy will extend his Australian rules career by signing for Bacchus Marsh in the Ballarat Football League for the 2025 season.
The former Carlton and Geelong utility player, one of only four Irishman to win an AFL Premiership (Tadhg Kennelly, Mark O’Connor, and Conor McKenna are the others), announced his retirement before the end of the 2024 season as the record holder for the highest number of AFL appearances by an Irishman.
A Leinster minor winner in 2007, Tuohy, moved 10,000 miles across the other side of the world in 2010 to play 288 senior matches for Carlton and most recently Geelong where he wrote his name into the history books after winning a Premiership alongside Kerry’s Mark O’Connor in 2022.
After hinting at a possible GAA return at the end of last season, Tuohy will now join forces with former Carlton teammate Dennis Armfield, who becomes his senior coach at the Cobras.
Armfield spent months trying to persuade Tuohy to join Bacchus Marsh and his persistence has finally paid off.
“He always knew that I would have a conversation with him when he retired,” Armfield explained.
“He’s a close mate.
“He’s come on board and for us, he’s a great recruit for the club and the community in terms of the development of the young boys.
“It’s really exciting that I have a great mate that is playing under me.”
Despite playing in the AFL for well over a decade, Tuohy has never previously experienced local football and his impending arrival has sent excitement levels soaring amongst the club’s supporters, many of whom are also passionate Geelong fans.
“Knowing Zach, he wanted to play with a mate,” Armfield said.
“I wasn’t sure if he was going to play at all.
“We have been mates for 10-plus years.
“It’s exciting for him and he gets to buy into the local sporting community in Australia.
“Hopefully this will build some more momentum for the club.”