Zach Tuohy has said he would welcome the opportunity to form “all-Irish half-back line” with Tyrone All-Ireland winner Conor McKenna at Geelong.
McKenna is reportedly on the brink of a move back to the AFL after quitting Essendon in 2020 to move back to Ireland and he was part of Tyrone’s run to Sam Maguire Cup success 12 months ago.
The Brisbane Lions are apparently leading the chase for him, though Tuohy’s Geelong have also been linked with the speedster.
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The two clubs face-off in Friday’s preliminary final, effectively a semi-final, with the winners taking on Sydney Swans or Collingwood in the Grand Final on September 24.
Portlaoise native Tuohy said he is “not involved” in any negotiations around the possibility of bringing McKenna to the club but added that he “would be interested” in having him as a teammate alongside former Kerry underage star Mark O’Connor.
“He’s a top player,” Tuohy told the Herald Sun. “Any good players that you can get at your club, you want them all, and the more Irish players the better, as far as I’m concerned.
“An all-Irish half-back line as far as I’m concerned would be pretty special. I’d be all for it.”
Tuohy, 32, who is set to play on for another season in Australia, and O’Connor played in the Grand Final two years ago when Geelong fell to Richmond and he spoke of his desire to emulate Tadhg Kennelly, the only player to win an AFL Premiership having done so with the Sydney Swans in 2005.
“Winning a flag is the only goal I have in my career … certainly since I’ve been at Geelong,” Tuohy said.
“I haven’t had a whole lot to do with Tadhg… he was obviously the Irish guy you looked up to.
“He was the only one that kind of was playing really regular for a long time and was the only ne to win a flag.
“The ambition is not to equal his record of winning a flag, it’s just to win one. If I can do it with Mark O’Connor, that would make it extra special.”
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