ZACH TUOHY'S steep learning curve is set to continue as Carlton grooms the talented Irishman to spend more time on the wing this season.

Usual defender Tuohy enjoyed only a rare run on the wing last year, but Blues coach Mick Malthouse is keen for him to further his football education by adding more firepower to the club's midfield brigade.

The 23-year-old has been training with the Blues' midfield group and has improved his fitness accordingly, revealing he is in career-best shape to tackle what he regards as one of the most complex positions to learn.

Tuohy is relishing the prospect of splitting his time between defence and the midfield, and is confident that his fourth AFL season (his first on the Blues' primary list after three years as an international rookie) will bring greater consistency.

Blues fans should also be excited as it is an attacking move that could make for attractive viewing given Tuohy's considerable virtues – his vigorous, straight-ahead style which would be well suited to one-on-one contests, along with the defensive/offensive balance in his game and, of course, his superb long-range kicking.

In fact, it's tantalising to imagine Tuohy adding to his highlights reel with more goals from outside the arc. (In an interview with AFL.com.au he quips: "I'm sick of passing in the back half; I want to have shots.")

Tuohy learned of the planned positional shift during a one-on-one chat with Malthouse in the coach's office at Visy Park early in pre-season.

"Mick's big on players being able to play a variety of roles because it gives the team another option at the selection table. Hopefully it will also help me get selected," he said.

"He wants me to expand my game and be an extra wingman because it's a tough role to play and it gives the genuine wingmen a chop out now and then.

"I'd love to spend more time on the wing. I got a little taste of it last year and I really enjoyed it. I've been training there and I want to have a real crack at it.Like virtually everyone here, my fitness is as good as it's ever been. I feel ready for it."

However, Tuohy realises he still has much to learn.

"It's a tough new challenge because it's an awful lot different to playing down back," he said. "There's a bit more to playing in the backline than just playing on your man, but you can just do that if you want, whereas the wing is probably the toughest position to get right because it's the one that varies most depending on the situation.

"I think I'm learning it all pretty well. I suppose I've been learning every step of the way since I got here. But there's only so long you can look at a piece of paperwith positions on it, so I probably just need to play a few games on the wing and learn a bit on the job."

Asked if he felt he could become an influential player, Tuohy said he hoped so.

"I feel like I've played enough senior football now to at least have the confidence to think I can step up and play more consistently," he said.

"I wasn't as consistent as I would have liked last year, so it'd be nice if I could close the gap between my good and bad games. It'd be good to have an influence onthis team because I think we're going places. I certainly don’t want to risk missing out on anything because of inconsistency."

One thing Tuohy is consistent with is his kicking. Of the Irishmen to have played the game, he is widely regarded as the best kick. Indeed, he's one of Carlton's best kicks. Though confident in his skills, he's not so sure about where he rates.

"I've seen vision of (Jim) Stynes and (Sean) Wight playing for Melbourne, and of course Tadhg Kennelly (Sydney) who is the only Irishman to win a premiership, and while it's certainly very flattering, I'd be very reluctant to lay claim to anything that outlandish," he said.

"I'd gladly give up my kicking if I could play as well as any of those guys, and win a premiership."

Thoughts of home are never far from Tuohy's mind. He has decorated his left arm with a series of tattoos (and plans to get "a lot more"). Most of them are family-related.

An inscription on the underside of his bicep also holds special significance as it honours two friends who committed suicide: an old schoolmate in 2008, and a Gaelic football teammate in 2010. This traumatic period coincided with Tuohy's initial babysteps at Carlton.

He wanted to honour his fallen mates with tattooed prose about mental health and contentment, and stumbled across a verse from 16th century English poet Sir Edward Dyer. It reads: My mind to me a kingdom is / Such present joys therein I find / That it excels all other bliss / The world affords or grows by kind.

As for himself, Tuohy isn't becoming too content with his lot just yet because there is still much he wants to achieve. But he says he's "in a good headspace" – one that might well accelerate his progress.


Zach Tuohy is a defender in NAB AFL Fantasy. He averaged 46.37 points in 2012. Register your team at our AFL Fantasy Hub.

Follow AFL website reporter Ben Collins on Twitter at @AFL_BenCollins.