Irish eyes smiling if Conor joins Cats

GEELONG defender Zach Tuohy would roll out the red carpet at the Cats for countryman Conor McKenna if the Irishman’s potential return to the AFL is fulfilled.

Irishman Tuohy (pictured, left) said he had not spoken to McKenna, who is reportedly eyeing an AFL comeback after quitting Essendon and returning to Ireland to play Gaelic football at the end of 2020.

But the more Irish players at the Cats, the better, he said.

“I would be interested (in having him at Geelong),” Tuohy said.

“He’s a top player. 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 halfback line as far as I’m concerned would be pretty special.

“I’d be all for it.”

Brisbane is reportedly keen on the Irish speedster (pictured, above right) but Geelong is also plotting a play, particularly in the wake of missing out on Giants wantaway Jacob Hopper.

A deal could happen in the supplemental selection period over the upcoming summer for the 26-year-old, who played 76 games for the Bombers before returning home and winning an All-Ireland final for Tyrone.

Tuohy, 32, said he was “probably a generation or two ahead of him”, but that younger Cats may have touched base with McKenna.

The Geelong defender is aiming to be just the second Irish player to claim an AFL premiership, after Tadhg Kennelly won with Sydney in 2005, and hopes he and teammate Mark O’Connor could make it three by the end of next weekend as the Cats eye a grand final berth.