Breaking Grand Final joy for Tuohy and O'Connor as Geelong destroy Sydney

Geelong Cats 133-52 Sydney Swans

There was Grand Final joy for Ireland's Geelong pair Zach Tuohy and Mark O’Connor as the Geelong Cats were crowned AFL champions after a 132-52 destruction of the Sydney Swans at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

In helping the Cats to their first title since 2011, the pair became only the second and third Irish players to ever win a Grand Final after Tadhg Kennelly had done so with the Swans in 2005.

Kennelly’s fellow Kerry man O’Connor was originally listed as an emergency player for the final, but was drafted in pre-game to replace Max Holmes with the club stating that "the risk was deemed too great" to risk the latter.

It was plain sailing from start to finish for Geelong following an astonishing opening quarter that saw them kick six goals to lead 41-6.

That meant that the game was effectively over as a contest early on, but after an even-scoring second quarter, Geelong continued to run riot after half time to canter to the crown.

More to follow...