Carlton’s Irish defender Zach Tuohy has echoed the sentiments of President Stephen Kernahan in urging everyone in the Blues family to unite behind three-time premiership coach Mick Malthouse and the players.

The Portlaois-born defender, who was one of only 5 Carlton players to play in all 24 matches last season, acknowledges the criticism from hurting supporters after four straight losses, but insists that Malthouse’s game plan is not to blame for the 0-4 start to the season.

“All of the players know that we have under-performed, but we are all behind Mick,” Tuohy told The Irish Daily Mirror.

“The problem hasn’t been the game plan, it’s more that we as players haven’t executed our skills. 0-4 is where we are at but we will definitely scrap and fight our way out of it. Confidence has been affected,  but there is no way that our playing list is a bottom of the table list. The games against Port Adelaide and Richmond were quite close and we should have won those matches.

“The message to the fans is to stick with us because as a club everyone needs support in tough times as well as the good times. Once we get a win on the board, it could snowball into a few wins and then the ladder will look a lot better.”

Tuohy, 24, and Brisbane’s dashing defender Pearce Hanley, 25, are undoubtedly the standout Irish players in the AFL. Both have the ability to lay crucial tackles and turn defence into attack with their trademark runs out of defence. But as Tuohy explains they are two different types of players who use their rivalry to spur each other on.

“Pearce has been exceptional for a few years now which has created a healthy rivalry between us as regular senior players,” Tuohy said.

“We respect each other’s success and we are both aware that we are representing out country as well as our clubs in the AFL. Pearce has the ability to rack up 25-30 disposals a game when he runs out of defence into midfield, whereas my game is more about shutting down my opponents. It would be nice to have as many disposals as Pearce, but the main thing is for me to do my job for the team.”

Tuohy was recruited in 2009 when he was playing Gaelic football for Portlaoise in Ireland. He was selected as Carlton’s sixth round selection in the 2010 AFL rookie draft and was elevated to the senior ranks in the following year. The bearded halfback became a father for the first time in January when his girlfriend Rebecca gave birth to Flynn James.

Since his arrival at Carlton, Tuohy has succeeded where many Irish AFL recruits have failed, in terms of overcoming the understandable homesickness to settle across the other side of the world.

Tuohy says he will always be indebted to Carlton for helping him feel at home away from home.

“Homesickness was never really a problem for me because from the moment I arrived at Carlton the club did everything to help me on and off the field,” Tuohy said.

“I will always be grateful to my former coach Brett Ratten and now to Mick for giving me the opportunity to play for Carlton. I love the club and I also love living in Melbourne. I’m settled and I don’t want to be anywhere else.”

Ahmer Khokhar is a Melbourne-based sports journalist.