TUOHY SETS SIGHTS ON MIDFIELD
Cats brew plan to build mid strength
ZACH Tuohy has hinted that he could make a move into Geelong’s blue-chip midfield as the Cats plot their 2018 premiership assault.
Declaring he is ready to take his game to another level, Tuohy teased that he could “pinch hit” in the engine room this season alongside the likes of Patrick Dangerfield, Gary Ablett and Joel Selwood.
“It’d be nice to maybe be able to play a few more positions than I have done in the past,” Tuohy said at the Cats’ open training session at GMHBA Stadium yesterday.
“Obviously I’ll stay at halfback — and that’s not going to change — but the ability to pinch hit in different positions is probably going to be a useful one, especially in today’s game.
“A bit of time in the midfield would be nice, but I’m going to be playing halfback, there’s no doubt about that, but just the experience can’t be a bad thing.”
Tuohy had a breakout maid- en season for the Cats last year and the former Blue is confident he will find another gear.
“I don’t see any reason to suspect why I shouldn’t keep progressing,” said Tuohy, who finished third in last year’s bestand-fairest.
“The body’s held up OK, which is half the battle in (the) AFL.
“I’m surrounded by really quality people, coaches who are exceptional coaches, but were all phenomenal players, so there’s no reason I shouldn’t be able to keep tapping into their experiences and hopefully take the next step again.”
Tuohy, who has played 145 games for Carlton and Geelong, will be part of a new-look Cats defence following the departures of champions Tom Lonergan and Andrew Mackie.
But the Irishman remains steadfast that the defensive group can remain strong with the development of Zach Guthrie, Tom Stewart, Jed Bews and Jake Kolodjashnij.