Zach was still a teen when he was scouted by the AFL in Ireland, beginning a great adventure in Australia, where he fell in love and unexpectedly became a dad. On his way home from training, a 24-year-old Zach would have to pull over on the side of the road to cry before he got home to his young family.

Zach Tuohy was just 17 years old when he was scouted by the Carlton Football Club at a Gaelic football tournament in his home country of Ireland.

He did two trials for the club before taking the plunge, leaving his family behind in Portlaoise and moving to Australia to become a professional footballer, first for Carlton and then for the Cats in Geelong.

By the time Zach retired from the AFL in 2024, he had accumulated an astonishing 288 games, a premiership title, a loving Aussie wife and two beautiful sons.

But Zach's great Irish-Australian adventure wasn't always a dream run.

He struggled as a young, first-time dad, and didn't know who to turn to.

On the way home from training, Zach would feel compelled to pull over on the side of the road and cry, alone in his car before coming home to his young family, pretending everything was ok.

Further information

The Irish Experiment is co-authored by Catherine Murphy and published by Simon and Schuster.

Keep up to date with Zach's post-footy exploits on his Instagram page.

Find out more about the Conversations Live National Tour on the ABC website.

This episode of Conversations was produced by Meggie Morris and presented by Sarah Kanowski. Executive Producer is Nicola Harrison

It explores the AFL, Carlton, Geelong Cats, Premiership, Grand Final, West Coast Eagles, fatherhood, post postpartum depression, postnatal depression in men, young fathers, migration, Irish in Australia, Aussie Rules, hurling, grandma's love, relationships, raising children, life after sport, professional athletes, Sydney Swans, Grand Final, footy.

AFL star Zach Tuohy on his silent struggles as a young father and life after footy

Conversations

AFL star Zach Tuohy on his silent struggles as a young father and life after footy