AFL Coaches Association defends Brendon Bolton after savage comments from ex-Blue Zach Tuohy

Ex-Blue and Cat Zach Tuohy didn’t hold back in his book about former coach Brendon Bolton. Bolton may not have bit back, but that doesn’t mean Tuohy’s criticism didn’t impact him.

The AFLCA have come out in defence of Brendon Bolton. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

The AFL Coaches Association has defended former Carlton senior coach Brendon Bolton in the wake of claims his intensity and demanding style forced former Blue Zach Tuohy out of the club.

Tuohy savaged Bolton in his new book, saying he “never, ever dreaded going to work as much as I did when Brendon Bolton was in charge of the club.”

Tuohy departed the Blues after a “bleak” season in 2016 and went on to win a premiership at Geelong in 2022 before retiring last season after 288 games.

While Bolton has refused to bite back since landing at St Kilda as an assistant coach, AFLCA chief executive Alistair Nicholson said the stinging attack from Tuohy hit a sour note with members of the AFL coaching group.

Tuohy played at Carlton before winning a premiership at the Cats. Picture: Cameron Spencer/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

“I found the timing of it (criticism) a bit unusual and I think it made it hard for Brendon going into a new club,” Nicholson said.

“He has been welcomed there (St Kilda) with open arms and so he should be. I don’t know Zach, but I know Brendon and he is a fantastic coach and a fantastic person.

“The reality is players are able to say what they want when they finish. I think coaches spend a lot of time looking after players and caring for them.

“I know there was some frustration in the coaching cohort about that, but Brendon to his credit just wanted to get on with it and not bring too much attention to it.”

Nicholson said it was an example of the intense focus on coaches and the criticism they faced in the football spotlight as the AFLCA fights to improve conditions for some of the game’s most scrutinised figures.

Key talks with the AFL will focus on enhancing coaches’ wages, termination clauses, transition programs, extended breaks and personal development amid increasing pressure and stress levels for coaches.

In particular, Tuohy said he thought Bolton “had it in for me” and revealed a “crazy” time Bolton criticised the Blues players who ate a shortbread biscuit given to them on a plane flight.

Nicholson said the excerpt from Tuohy’s book ‘The Irish Experiment’ was difficult for Bolton, who was an assistant at Collingwood in its 2023 premiership triumph.

Bolton was sacked by the Blues in 2019. Picture: Scott Barbour/Getty Images

Nicholson said that sort of criticism was a turn-off for potential coaches.

“It was really focused the way it was reported and that was hard for him to defend himself without making it a bigger story at the time,” Nicholson said.

“It was a challenge and I think it probably adds to the coaches’ consideration about whether they want to enter the profession or want to stay in the profession?

“But he (Bolton) handled it really well.

“Coaches don’t always get everything right, and there has been a lot of challenge for some of the coaches whether that be the Hawthorn investigation, and other issues.

“I think it shows just even more why we have got to put really good support around the group.”