Tuohy’s family makes a last-minute dash from Ireland
ZACH Tuohy’s family has made a last-minute dash from Portlaoise to Melbourne to hopefully watch the Cat become just the second premiership Irishman.
The 32-year-old will play his 250th game in the Grand Final, having uprooted his life from playing Gaelic football in Ireland at the end of 2009 to play Australian rules. His sister Naomi and her partner landed in Melbourne on Friday morning and will be at the MCG as he bids to win his first AFL flag.
“My parents didn’t get up, but my sister and my brother in law booked flights at the last minute and got in (Friday) morning, which was a good effort,” Tuohy said on Friday.
“But the support back home is pretty immense at the minute.
“The coverage around the game has grown significantly in the last couple of years, so lots of early morning coffees (for them).”
Tuohy’s sister revealed this week that the family was set to gather at the home of his parents, Noel and Marie, from about 4am.
The Cat said after making such a huge lifestyle change, “it would mean everything” to claim victory.
“I’m really proud of the club that I play for, and that it keeps giving me an opportunity to win it,” he said.
“If it’s not to be, it’s not to be. But this is why we play, and to be back on the big stage again is something I’m not taking for granted. I also appreciate that there’s a ton of work left to do.”
As Max Holmes bids to prove his fitness amid a hamstring concern, Tuohy said the young gun’s selection was unlikely to alter his role against the Swans too much.