Zach happy and in stunning form

GEELONG recruit Zach Tuohy could be playing his way into All-Australia contention after a blistering start to his career at the Cats.

Champion Data numbers back up the perception Tuohy has made a seamless transition in only nine matches.

The 27-year-old is ranked elite for disposals and metres gained and is above the AFL average in key areas including kick rating, intercept marking and intercept possession.

His numbers are comparable with players vying for backline positions, including Adelaide’s Rory Laird, Sydney’s Jake Lloyd and Carlton’s Sam Docherty, who have all enjoyed high-impact seasons.

It comes at no surprise that Tuohy’s form comes after he admitted last week he was in the best headspace of his AFL career.

Tellingly, his consistency has been one of the hallmarks of his season, after he had 85 possessions across Geelong’s three-week losing rut.

“It’s really refreshing for me to get somewhere else,” Tuohy said on 3AW.

“It was kind of a mutual decision in the end (to leave Carlton) and I have no problems saying I’m the happiest I’ve been on and off the field in my career.

“I put that down in no small part to coming to Geelong, so I’m just really enjoying my time here and that’s translating into decent form.”

Tuohy averages 26.3 possessions a game — the sixth best return of general defenders in the AFL — and his average 482.5 metres gained puts him inside the top 10 defenders in the game.

His elite fitness has also allowed him to spend almost 90 per cent of all games on the ground, allowing him to have more time to impact matches.