For only the second time in history, the winners of the AFL feature Irish representation, with Zach Tuohy and Mark O'Connor part of the Geelong Cats' winning side from this morning's final against Sydney Swans.
Tuohy and O'Connor join Tadhg Kennelly as Irish winners of the Aussie Rules' biggest prize, and it was a rampant win in the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Both players started the game, which saw the Cats run out comprehensive winners by a 133-52 scoreline.
The final was Tuohy's 250th AFL appearance and, after tasting disappointment in the 2020 decider, he can finally add a winners' medal to his list of achievements down under.
The proud Portlaoise man showed his love for home when receiving his medal.
Zach Tuohy and Mark O'Connor victorious with Geelong in AFL final
Zach Tuohy made the move down under in 2010 with Carlton, before a trade to Geelong was agreed for the 2017 season.
He has remained there ever since, and finally took a winners' medal on Saturday morning (Irish time).
When ascending to accept his medal, Tuohy carried a flag in the colours of his GAA club from home, Portlaoise, with the phrase "Come on the Town" inscribed.
Zach Tuohy brings the @PortlaoiseGAA flag up to receive his Premiership medal. A class act. pic.twitter.com/BwkLppxP8M
— Maurice Brosnan (@m_brosnan) September 24, 2022
Tuohy played for Portlaoise before his move to Australia, and won a Leinster minor football medal during his time with the club.
He spoke earlier this week about his plans to carry the flag if Geelong were victorious:
There was a Portlaoise flag in the crowd in the prelim which is my local team.
I've got a Portlaoise flag myself, so if all goes well I might try to bring that out.
It was an emotional show of love for his home town, and capped what was a momentous occasion in the career of the 32-year-old.
O'Connor made the move to the AFL in 2017, joining Geelong in the same year Tuohy arrived from Carlton.
He came into the side on late notice for the final, after an injury to regular Max Holmes.
Mark O'Connor comes into the side 🔄 #AFLGF #Untameable pic.twitter.com/N4wbUT3YfY
— Geelong Cats (@GeelongCats) September 24, 2022
The Dingle man joins Tuohy and Kennelly in the list of Irish AFL winners, after a historic day in Melbourne.
Brilliant Premiership win for Zach Tuohy, Mark O’Connor and @GeelongCats 🇮🇪
Celebration time for the clann in Oz
Go Cats 🔵⚪️#AFLGF pic.twitter.com/Kn2oWmCGq4— Darren O’Rourke TD (@orourke_darren) September 24, 2022
It was a special day (or morning, in these parts) for the Irish in the AFL, and one which have put the missing piece in Zach Tuohy and Mark O'Connor's Aussie Rules careers.
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