In praise of Geelong’s Irish Experiment

Janus Journal #1 – By Hugh Wilkins

The Irish experiment. For some fans, the thought of the Irish players breeds excitement. For others, the Irish players are a source of frustration. But for me, the Irish players come to represent more than just the game.

I feel a kindred spirit with the AFL’s Celtic warriors. A connection. I am not Irish myself, but I identify with these players because I can identify and relate to their experiences greater than the typical draftee. You must understand, my love for AFL has only blossomed in the last six years. Despite my constant exposure to AFL (for my Dad was a coach), I only truly began to appreciate it from a perspective of consciousness. Thus, my identification with the Irish imports can be understood. Like them, I am also learning the game; learning the nuances and intricacies, but also learning to love it from a conscious perspective.

Luckily for me, Geelong, my team, has a strong history of engaging in this Irish experiment, starting particularly towards the end of the 2016 season, when Zach Tuohy requested a trade from Carlton to Geelong. Along with this, Geelong selected Mark O’Connor from Kerry GAA as a Category B Rookie in October 2016. Both Tuohy (Round 1: Fremantle) and O’Connor (Round 7: Essendon) made their club debuts in 2017, and have become immortalised as stalwart defenders and, most notably, Geelong Premiership Players (2022). Subsequently, Geelong have continued delving into the Irish pool with their selection of Oisin Mullin as a Category B Rookie from County Mayo (Initially in 2021, before eventually coming to Geelong in 2023). This trend has continued even today- as the Cats have filled the Irish void left by Tuohy’s retirement with the Category B Recruitment of youngster Cillian Burke.

That’s the thing with the Irish. AFL clubs will continue to look down this avenue due to its historical successes, and the capacity to bring through already hardened, tough, resilient and athletic players who have shown a capacity to quickly adapt to the similar, but different, rigours of AFL Football.

So, forgive the long article, but please indulge me as I wax lyrical about Geelong’s Irish players, and how they have had an impact on me as a Geelong supporter.

Zach Tuohy

1x Premiership Player (2022)

1x All-Australian (2015)

The frolicking Irishman, with a booming right peg and a penchant for a barrel. Initially drafted by Carlton in 2010 (pick 73 in the Rookie Draft) from his native Portlaoise- Tuohy gradually developed into a consistent, reliable and memorable player. Like most Irishmen, he learnt the trade as a tagger, before slowly drifting into his half-back role with a tendency to roll forward and use his thumping kick to bomb goals from 50; Tuohy’s first goal for Geelong against Fremantle comes to mind (2017).

For me, I took notice of Tuohy in his time at Geelong. His windswept hair and voluminous moustache made him an instant cult figure. A real heart and soul player that fought for the jumper, the Cats stood taller with Tuohy in the half-back line. A mobile half-back with drive and desire to push up the ground. His mobility correlated with his tackling ability and his wiliness around goal. His Gaelic attributes enabled his craftiness around goal. Look up his two goals within 2 minutes against Brisbane in 2021; a one point win for the Cats. The first showcased Tuohy’s Gaelic capacity to step through traffic, weaving through both Charlie Cameron and Hugh McCluggage for an impressive leaning goal. The second was indicative of Tuohy’s hard running capacity and ability to stay dangerous within the same contest- feeding a handball to Shaun Higgins on the boundary line and getting it back with a no looker for a cheeky checkside goal.

What struck me about Tuohy was his embracing of physicality. Playing against Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium in 2022, Tuohy told Bailey Smith where he could shove it amidst a Three Quarter Time fracas from some Bulldogs players against Rhys Stanley. Tuohy, first to the scene, defended the ruckman, resulting in an iconic, fierce and fiery altercation with Bailey Smith as he ended up headbutting Tuohy.

But that’s what you got with Tuohy. A fire that burnt as bright as his hair. A fire that could not be snuffed out. One of the most passionate players I have ever seen.

His reliability and consistency could be seen in his eventual surpassing of the great Jim Stynes record for most games played by an Irish player.

Tuohy has many iconic moments in the annals of Geelong’s history (His classic Irish jig whenever he kicked a goal or his 250th Game being the Grand Final against Sydney in 2022). But his most notable moment has to be his goal after the siren against Melbourne in 2018. Going into the last term, Geelong where down by 23 points, were a last ditch effort to win the game with a minute to go came from a bold kick in board from Daniel Menzel to Tom Hawkins (who kicked four in the last quarter), to get it to Mitch Duncan, with a foray kick forward to find a now forward Tuohy who takes an aerially powerful contested mark and converted after the siren to win by two points.

Mark O’Connor:

1x Premiership Player (2022)

When compared to Tuohy, Mark O’Connor is a player that receives little to no fanfare. Instead, he has quietly and deliberately found his way into fairly consistent stints in the side. Debuting in 2017, and with 130+ games for the Cats; O’Connor has developed into a reliable and stalwart defender for the Cats.

Like is apparent to most Irish players, O’Connor’s greatest attribute is his resolute physicality. Always temperate on the field- O’Connor is able to stoically complete his designated assignment. His defensive determination often goes unnoticed- but are often critical to the team’s success. His defensive physicality has become apparent in his willingness to staunchly tag (particularly memorable are his duels with Lachie Neale- Round 6, 2024, O’Connor was able to quell Neale’s influence and was even able to work hard in getting a goal himself), commit to contests as well as his ability to use his strength to help set up goals or get on the end of some team movement; which is exactly how he finds himself as a stalwart member of Geelong’s defensive setup. Look at O’Connor’s goals too. His Irish-ness allows for the capacity to flush them on the run, or craftily snap around his body (O’Connor’s goal against Melbourne or the Bulldogs in 2020 come to mind).

A reserved and commanding member of Geelong’s backline, he plays with a stoic seriousness that reflects his intensity and physicality. That’s what strikes me about O’Connor. His quite-ness is indicative of his assuredness.

In 2022, along with Zach Tuohy, O’Connor became a Premiership Player , with Tuohy and O’Connor becoming the second and third Irish players to play in a Premiership since Tadgh Kennelly (2005). In a game where not much was to be done defensively- O’Connor finished the game with 13 disposals at 92% efficiency; and most notably, getting a holding the ball tackle on James Rowbottom on the stroke of 50 to deny Sydney from adding another to their only solitary first quarter goal.

Oisin Mullin

The third player in this article is Oisin Mullin, a player that i will always staunchly defend. No matter how poor a game he plays, or how much certain fans think he is to blame for certain results, I will resolutely support and defend Mullin, for there he is an incredibly capable, dynamic and intelligent athlete who is still developing his understanding of the game, and is having to do so on the fly. As a new player still learning the game, he can become a whipping boy for Geelong fans, but there is something inspirational about seeing a player- far from his home, his family, learning a new game that is similar but deeply nuanced and confusing compared to the Gaelic Football he grew up with. How can you not be inspired by this?

I think we are seeing an immense and positive step in the development of Oisin Mullin. To the outside eye, Oisin Mullin is an easy target for criticism, but I can see the potential that is gradually becoming more and more apparent. Mullin’s best feats have occurred as a tagger. In the Round 9 game against Port Adelaide at GMHBA Stadium, Port jumped the Cats to go into Quarter time with a 5 goal lead; spearheaded by the midfield destruction led by Horne-Francis (8 disposals, 4 score involvements, 1 goal, 3 clearances). Chris Scott dragged Ruckman Rhys Stanley and immediately inject Mullin onto the dangerous Horne-Francis. Despite the loss, Mullin was able quell the impact of Horne-Francis, nullifying him to only 2 score involvements and 4 clearances for the rest of the game; and this was the match where I became invested in the Oisin Mullin development. This match-up was also critical to Geelong’s thumping Qualifying Final against Port Adelaide. Away from home and with a late withdrawal from Tom Stewart- Mullin was brought into the side to again, sit on Horne-Francis and negate his influence.

In Round 3, 2025, Mullin was placed on the dangerous Charlie Cameron; and after conceding a first quarter goal- locked in and was able to keep Cameron to only 7 disposals, and 2 score involvements, whilst Mullin himself had 15 disposals and 100% efficiency in a wet and slippery environment that probably suited his Gaelic attributes.

In Round 7 2025 Mullin was tasked with Nick Daicos, a match up I watched quite intently whilst at the game. In the last quarter, with Geelong’s lead at a slender 7 points, Mullin persisted with the tag; and was able to effectively negate Daicos to only 3 disposals. Although Geelong was well within their rights to lose that game from a commanding position (Crisp missed after the siren), Mullin’s disablement of Daicos instrumentally denied his ability to find influence in the game in clutch moments where he historically breaks the game open as a game-winner.

That is not to disregard his adapting development in the skills department. His most iconic moment surely must be his beautiful left foot hit up running on the Members wing to Brad Close who set up Ollie Henry for his third goal. Unfortunately, the game proved to be a heart-breaking Prelim defeat as the Cats were felled by the Lions by 10 points.

Mullin is obviously highly rated internally by Geelong. He has found himself a consistent spot in the side in 2025, so Chris Scott evidently sees something in the developing Irishmen. Oisin bias aside. I genuinely do think it is only a matter of time before we see Oisin break the shackles of development and becomes a respected Irish footballer in the vein of Zach Tuohy. We have seen what he can do, and i believe he is more than just a flirting experiment. He is most valued and effective as of writing as a tagger- especially on midfield players. Oisin’s current position as a defender often leaves him an easy target for criticism; especially in losses. But, watching Mullin live, i do see an athlete with a resounding composure that just hasn’t found the capacity to release it yet. That’s why I believe no one should be surprised if they find Oisin spending far more time in the midfield. He is a tough and brick-walled with a tank for days for two way running. He has the capacity to attack the ball hard, and use his speed to burst or weave through contests, and with an ability to use his Gaelic attributes and natural speed to dexterously change his running patterns on a dime, but to also find targets with the cheeky, angled kicking synonymous with Geelong.

At Gather Round this year, during a signing event, I even asked Oisin Mullin how he has found the change between Gaelic football and AFL. He spoke to it being a significant change compared to what he grew up playing. Following on, i asked whether he is enjoying, of which he said yes. He spoke to enjoying the challenge of learning this new game on the fly, in a competition where those who can’t adapt get spit out quite quickly. Thus, he has a fire inside, a competitive spirit and desire for adaption and gradual improvement each week.

Obviously, this article mentions the Geelong Irishmen. I am a Geelong fan, sue me. But that is not to discount the presence of the Irish players around the league. Mark Keane is a regular defender for the Adelaide Crows, recently heroically saving the Showdown no.57 clash with his courageous back-with-the-flight contested mark with 1 minute to go (and his almost unintelligible post-match interview about “footy”). Conor Nash has become a resolute hard-nosed tackling midfielder for Hawthorn, and Connor McKenna, the former bomber, is a premiership player for Brisbane (2024). All of these players have found their footing in the AFL after times of significant development; of learning the game and its intricacies. This is why I relate to the Irish players, because like them, I am learning the game on the run, and it is a great exemplar of the value that the AFL, and Geelong in particular, have found via the Irish Experiment.