'Why is AFL an evil code but everything else is fine?' Zach Tuohy questions Tomás Ó Sé criticism 

HITTING BACK: Zach Tuohy has it back at Tomás Ó Sé's criticism of the AFL's recruitment of Irish players. Pic: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images.

Zach Tuohy has hit back at Tomás Ó Sé’s criticism of the AFL’s recruitment of inter-county footballers.

As Cillian Burke, who last year played U20 for Kerry under Ó Sé signed with Tuohy’s former AFL club Geelong Cats earlier this week, Laois man Tuohy has revealed he is interested in helping more Gaelic footballers play professional Australian Rules.

In his autobiography “The Irish Experiment” to be published later this month, Tuohy recalls a 2017 newspaper column written by Ó Sé when AFL clubs were interested in David Clifford a year after fellow Kerryman Mark O’Connor had signed a contract for The Cats.

“He (Ó Sé) went on to say he wanted players to stay at home and ‘follow their dreams’ in Kerry and not ‘on the other side of the planet’. And just in case Mark O’Connor wasn’t clear on how the locals felt about his departure from Kerry to Geelong, Ó Sé added: ‘There are people in Dingle heartbroken that Mark O’Connor is gone’.

“But what if the player’s dream is to play sport for a living? How do they do that in Kerry? Sure, they might get a ‘job’ from a sponsor that requires little involvement so they can focus on training, but how many players does that happen for? And in how many counties does it happen? Kerry is a superpower and has the resources to match. It doesn’t happen in counties like Laois.

“It’s funny how, when a players leave GAA to play rugby, there aren’t any such columns. None of the commentators seem to care. In fact, these players often get complimented on the increased skill level that their Gaelic football background has brought to rugby.

"But a player going to Australia to play Australian Rules? That automatically means the AFL is evil. They’ve taken an Irish player aware from the love of the game to a weekly pay cheque.

“And don’t get me started on golf. Shane Lowry played Gaelic football for Clara, then left to tour the world as a professional golfer. How dare he? His dad Brendan, along with Shane’s two uncles, won an All-Ireland with Offaly in 1982. With that pedigree, how could he leave Gaelic football.

Zach Tuohy poses for a photo after a Geelong Cats AFL training session at GMHBA Stadium on September 19, 2022 in Geelong, Australia. Pic: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images.

“I haven’t been able to find Tomás’ article critiquing Shane Lowry for leaving or lamenting Clara’s inability to protect their players from the invading forces of the PGA Tour, but I’m sure it’s out there somewhere.

“Why is AFL an evil code you can’t give in to, but everything else is fine? In case you haven’t picked up on it, I have a serious issue with anyone who dares to block an opportunity for a young player.”

Tuohy broke the late Jim Stynes’ record for most AFL appearances last year and finished with 288 following his retirement in September. He believes Gaelic footballers “are perfectly prime to play Australian Rules football”.

He sees himself as assisting players make the move Down Under.

“The future is bright for potential Irish recruits. With a 19th team – the Tasmania Devils – joining the competition in 2027, the number of players required will increase, so there’ll be more opportunities. At some point, I’d like to be involved in helping Irish players make the most of that.

“I look back to the draft combine I did in Limerick and I know I’d like to facilitate that for young Irish players. I’m passionate about athletes getting the opportunity to be professional, if that’s their goal. And the reality is, the GAA is never turning professional.

“In GAA, you play for the love of the game. Believe me, I know – I couldn’t live it more. But you can’t lodge love of the game in your bank accounts, and I can assure you that it doesn’t help to secure a mortgage, or pay one off, for that matter. Realistically, for Gaelic footballers who want sport to be their livelihood, the AFL is the best option.”

Portlaoise man Tuohy aims to line out for his home club and possibly his county in 2025 and wants to see the International Rules series revived. There is some speculation it may return with a couple of games in Ireland next year.

“I’d love to play for Ireland again, and I hope the AFL and the GAA can make it happen. As for golf? I would warn the GAA against any form of collaboration. We don’t want to put our players in too many shop windows, now, do we?”

* “The Irish Experiment” by Zach Tuohy with Catherine Murphy is published by Hachette Ireland, will be available from November 14 and is priced at €16.99.