Zach Tuohy enjoying life at Geelong after leaving Carlton during 2016 trade period

ZACH Tuohy has revealed why he left Carlton despite a three-year contract offer and says he has settled in well at Geelong after a few early awkward moments.

ZACH Tuohy gazes across a rain-soaked Simonds Stadium where Geelong’s new $100 million Brownlow Stand takes an impressive shape.

“It’s weird isn’t it?” Tuohy said of sitting in the stands of a club he had only ever known as the enemy.

“It’s certainly been different, but I must admit, I’m absolutely loving it now. I’m as happy as I’ve ever been with footy and life.

“It’s been a nice change.”

That change was something he had never contemplated — Carlton last October traded him and a future second-round pick to the Cats in exchange for fringe player Billie Smedts and a future first-round selection.

For Tuohy, the son of a prison warden and one-time junior Gaelic star who was introduced to AFL on YouTube, Carlton was all he had known in Australia.

Zach Tuohy in his new colours and new surroundings at Geelong. Picture: Jay Town

Pick No.73 in the rookie draft, the fifth Irishman to play 100 games, third in a best and fairest and selection in the 2015 AFL Coaches’ Association team of the year, the 27-year-old had made his name as a durable defender with a penchant for long, running goals.

Carlton was home. Until the locks were changed.

The Blues presented Tuohy with a three-year contract that shocked him.

“It was sub-par, very sub-par. Almost insulting,” he said.

“It made it virtually impossible (to stay). Perhaps I was a victim of circumstance. The club’s going in a certain direction and that’s been very clearly documented.

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“I was very happy there, but it was made clear to me that I might need to look at my options.”

With the welfare of partner Rebecca and three-year-old son Flynn forefront in his mind, Tuohy bit the bullet.

“By no stretch was I pushed out the door, that’s not the impression I’m trying to give,” he said.

“But I was given a very strong impression that my future wasn’t guaranteed and, having a young family, that wasn’t a risk I was willing to take.

“I wasn’t going to put my own desire to be a one-club player ahead of my family’s wellbeing.

Zach Tuohy in action during a Geelong pre-season training session. Picture: Jay Town

“The decision had to be made and I’m very happy I made it and I’ll stand by it.”

By mid-November Tuohy was training in a different uniform, and by the second day of pre-season he had found a new house.

He had moved, but moving on took a little longer.

“For Irish guys it’s taken for granted that growing up in Ireland you play for where you’re from and that’s pretty much it,” Tuohy said.

“It’s incredibly rare for anybody to ever change and play for someone else. I don’t think it’s really in the nature of Irish guys to do that. It doesn’t feel right.

“Myself and Pearce (Hanley) switched clubs this year, but there wouldn’t be too many others.

“For the vast majority of my career I could never picture myself being anywhere else.

“I struggled a bit with the idea of jumping ship, but again, I made the decision purely for what was best for me and the family in the long term and wherever I was going to be happiest.

“Carlton were great to me and for me, but the time was right. When you sit back and look at it logically, it was kind of a no-brainer in the end.”

After a couple of awkward moments initially, Tuohy said he was fitting in well with his new teammates.

Zach Tuohy will wear No.2 for Geelong. Picture: Jay Town

“Once you get over the initial shock of talking to someone you’ve only ever sledged you get used to it pretty quick,” he said.

“It’s odd training with them because you’ve only ever seen them as opposition.

“I can’t say I much enjoyed playing on ‘Motts’ (Steven Motlop) and ‘Danger’ (Patrick Dangerfield) when he was forward.

“I’m happy I’m not going to do that in games anymore.

“What you find is most clubs, most guys are good blokes and everyone is professional about it.”

He’s also settled in well to off-field life down the highway.

“The lifestyle here is a bit quieter than Melbourne and it’s great for me to have that extra time with my son, Flynn,” he said.

“I love Melbourne, it’s an awesome city, but for where I’m at it’s nice to take that step back and leave 10 minutes before you have to be somewhere instead of allowing 45.

“This is more my pace now.”