”It was that. That was the only thing that was at issue”.
Zach Tuohy, a defender for Premiership Geelong, has spoken out about leaving Carlton, saying he was “desperate not to leave” until the very end.
Following his selection by the Blues at Pick 73 in 2010 from Ireland, the 34-year-old immediately won over fans and established himself as a vital member of the squad under coaches Michael Malthouse and Brett Ratten. But after a successful draft period, the team was looking for a new direction, and Tuohy’s feelings of alienation were made worse by a strained relationship with Brendan Bolton, who became coach.
Tuohy explained on SEN’s host+one that he sensed he wasn’t in Carlton’s long-term plans and that his rapport with Bolton was strained. He said, “Ultimately, I was desperate to stay. I loved the place. I did not want to go, but I had to leave because it was no longer acceptable for me.
One specific issue in contract negotiations highlighted his concerns about his future. He noted, “There was one aspect of the contract that indicated they didn’t think I would be a first-team player for the next couple of years.” Tuohy wanted to avoid match payments, feeling they implied the club didn’t expect him to play regularly. When they weren’t willing to change this, it became a dealbreaker for him.
After 120 games with Carlton, Tuohy moved to Geelong, where he continued his successful career for another eight years, eventually winning a premiership in 2022. He recently retired, concluding a remarkable 14-year, 288-game career.