Zach Tuohy closes in on Jim Stynes’ Irish AFL games record

Geelong premiership player Zach Tuohy is not far off a hallowed record and it has made the usually unflappable Irishman feeling ‘strange’.

Zach Tuohy is keen to go on again in 2024. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Premiership Cat Zach Tuohy is “keen” to play on into a 14th AFL season as he closes in on a famous record that will leave him feeling like he is “shooting Bambi”.

Only injury will stop versatile veteran Tuohy from breaking Jim Stynes’ record for most VFL/AFL games by an Irishman, with Tuohy six games behind the legendary Melbourne ruck’s 264-game tally.

Zach Tuohy gets a handle on the ball. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

The record has been on the mind of the ex-Blue, who said it won’t feel right to go past the revered Stynes.

“It would be an honour if it happens, it is strange to think I have been around that long. It doesn’t feel like it to me,” Tuohy said.

“I have said it before, it will be a bit embarrassing for me if I do get there because it feels like shooting Bambi a bit. He is a legend to everyone, me included.

“It will be an honour but it will feel strange being mentioned next to him in any way.”

The great Jim Stynes.

Tuohy said he was happy to carry on as an out-of-contract player, with his future to be decided at the end of the season.

The beloved veteran is one of a number of senior Cats who are in the same boat, such as Tom Hawkins, Isaac smith, Gary Rohan, Rhys Stanley and Jonathon Ceglar.

Having enjoyed an extremely successful 138 games in the hoops – headlined by the 2022 premiership – Tuohy said while he wanted to play on, he would hold no grudge if his career ended this season.

Zach Tuohy competes with Jonathon Ceglar at training. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Tuohy said he “slaughtered it by foot” in Geelong’s loss to Richmond on Friday but the adaptable hard worker has enjoyed being locked in to a role on the win in recent weeks.

“I’m keen to play but there is a lot to play out between now and then. To call a spade a spade, I am not getting any younger,” he said.

“To be honest, if it was my last year I would be very content and grateful for everything the club has done.

“It will not be a contentious issue. If it makes sense, I would like to play on, if it doesn’t then I will carry on being a Geelong supporter and that will be fine too.”

Tuohy “a lot more positive” about 2023 Cats

Geelong veteran Zach Tuohy is “a lot more positive” about his team than he was this time last year when the Cats began a sensational march to a premiership.

A second-half fade out on Friday night against Richmond saw Geelong fall to 5-4 this season, the exact same record as the Cats held in 2022, before winning their next 16 games, culminating in a grand final.

Zach Tuohy kicks long. Pic: Michael Klein

Having collected five wins on the trot before the Tigers loss, Tuohy said he was buoyant Geelong would bounce back.

The Cats sit two games outside the top-four, with games against Fremantle (Perth Stadium), GWS Giants (GMHBA Stadium) and the Western Bulldogs (Marvel Stadium) to come before the bye.

The Cats will welcome back Brad Close (suspension) for the trip west, with Tyson Stengle (broken arm) likely and Jack Henry (foot) another possible inclusion.

A host of other first-choice Cats are expected back before the bye.

“We would like to be slightly more positive on the ledger but I feel a lot more positive than did maybe 5-6 rounds into last season,” Tuohy said.

“Personnel makes a difference, people might not like hearing that, but having your best players makes a difference, and we feel like our form is pretty good.

“The last few weeks have been really good and a lot of this game (against Richmond), the numbers were in our favour. When it is inaccuracy in front of goal, it is not panic stations.

“We have been through worse than this and we know our good is pretty good.”

Geelong seemed to have more of the play in the first half of Friday’s 24-point loss but couldn’t make the most of its chances, while Richmond was clinical in front of goal.

While the game swung further in Richmond’s favour in the back half, Tuohy said the loss was more of an “anomaly” than a concern.

“Typically we are really good going inside 50 and we are really good in front of goal so to be honest, it is a little bit easier to take when a strength lets you down on the night because it feels like an anomaly rather than an ongoing issue,” he said.

“It was disappointing because it felt like we were playing good footy for good periods but that is the name of the game.”

Originally published as Zach Tuohy closes in on Jim Stynes’ Irish AFL games record