Heartbreak and strength
Neil Cordy
The Daily Telegraph, May 5

SOME get to walk the easy road in life, but for others like Gary Rohan, he’s been tested to the core.

The Sydney Swans star’s path to 100 AFL games has been littered with challenges and heartbreak.

“It’s been a very long road,” Rohan said.

“It means a lot to get to 100 games after what I’ve been through.”

In 2012 he broke his leg in a collision with North Melbourne’s Lindsay Thomas.

If the pain of the compound fracture wasn’t enough to bear, five months later — in the middle of a drawn-out rehabilitation — he had to watch on as his teammates raised the premiership cup without him after an epic grand final against Hawthorn.

It was almost two years before he played again, at the tail end of the 2013 season, and another two years before he played without pain.

But his biggest challenge was still to come — one that put his sporting setbacks in perspective.

In November last year, doctors told Rohan and his wife Amie that one of their as-yet-unborn twin girls, later to be named Willow, had been diagnosed with anencephaly — a condition whereby she is missing part of her skull and brain.

“At about seven or eight weeks we found out we had twins, identical twins,” Rohan revealed to The Saturday Telegraph.

“It was the 11-week mark we found out about the anencephaly. There were mixed emotions, we were excited about having twins and then another curve came in.

“We found out then she was going to pass away. Because they were identical, it meant they shared the same placenta, so if we did something to one, it could affect the other.

“We didn’t want to risk losing both of them, so we carried (the pregnancy) out." 

AFL rules Sydney weren’t robbed in goal review in loss to North Melbourne
Neil Cordy
Monday, May 7

THE AFL has defended its video review system after a controversial call on a first-quarter goal from North Melbourne’s Billy Hartung which appeared to be touched off the boot by Sydney defender ­Jarrad McVeigh.

The “no call” was critical in the match with the Kangaroos hanging on to beat the Swans by two points.

TV replays showed clear evidence the play was worth another look before the centre bounce was taken.

“The reviewer didn’t see enough definitive evidence to change the decision in the time before the restart of play. So the original decision stood when the game was ready to restart,” AFL spokesman Patrick Keane said.

Surprisingly, Swans coach John Longmire wasn’t upset by what appeared to be a lack of scrutiny on the review.

“Someone told me he touched it, is that right or not?” Longmire said. 

“What do you want me to say? I guess that’s what the review is for. If he touched it he touched it and that is what the review is for.”

Not surprisingly, North Melbourne coach Brad Scott was convinced the review was made and right decision achieved.

“They review every goal,” Scott said.

“They review every goal before the next centre bounce. I’d be staggered if they didn’t look at it. I was 250 metres away (from the incident) and I didn’t look at the review. I can’t control it so we just move on to the next thing. We don’t get caught up looking at replays and becoming third and fourth umpires.” 

AFL gives tick to video call on doubtful goal against Swans
Andrew Wu
SMH, May 7 

The AFL has given the all clear to the video umpire who adjudicated on a contentious goal scored by North Melbourne's Billy Hartung in the Kangaroos' narrow win over Sydney on Saturday.

The Swans' unexpected loss has left the club back in the pack as they prepare to take on bogey side Hawthorn, possibly without superstar forward Lance Franklin, who is given a 50-50 chance to face his old team.

The major talking point out of Saturday night's match was a controversial goal Hartung scored in the first quarter.

Swans veteran Jarrad McVeigh was adamant he had touched the ball off the boot, but the shot was signalled a goal. All goals are reviewed regardless of whether one is asked for by the on-field officials.

Video footage appeared to support McVeigh's claims, with replays suggesting the ball had pushed back his fingers. The goal was allowed to stand.

There had been confusion over whether the review was completed in the allowed time. The broadcaster did not air the replay until after the ball had been bounced in the middle.

The AFL, however, has confirmed a review was undertaken and supported their official's verdict.

"In the time available for a review the reviewer was not able to determine any definitive evidence for him to make an overrule," an AFL spokesman said. 

Controversial goal cruels Swans in SCG thriller
James Buckley
SMH, May 6

Recalled Kangaroo Mason Wood helped North Melbourne consign Sydney to a third home loss this season on Saturday,  but their two-point win was overshadowed by a controversial Billy Hartung goal late in the first term that appeared to be touched by Swans veteran Jarrad McVeigh.

Hartung beat McVeigh in a foot race to a tumbling ball in the North forward 50m, gathered possession and wheeled around on a dime before snapping at goal, but replays appeared to show McVeigh touched the football off the boot.

The umpires didn't opt for a score review despite McVeigh's protestations and the majority of the 29,124 fans at the SCG, and the goal stood.

"Someone told me he touched it, is that right or not?" Swans coach John Longmire said when asked about the incident post match.

"If he touched it he touched it, that's what the review's for I would've thought, but anyway." 

Sydney Swans star Gary Rohan walks out to game 100 with newborn baby Bella
WWOS

Before North Melbourne forward Mason Wood kicked the match-winning goal for the Kangaroos to hand Sydney a two-point loss, there was a heartwarming moment for Swans fan favourite Gary Rohan.

Rohan walked out onto the SCG holding his newborn baby daughter Bella, the twin of Willow, who sadly did not survive long after birth due to a condition called anencephaly.

"It's been a tough roller coaster, but we had two beautiful girls, but lucky we have one to bring home," Rohan told AAP in the lead-up to his milestone game. 

Sydney Swans back Darkness Into Light in aid of suicide prevention
Amy Croffey
SMH, May 6

If you spot 2500 people in bright yellow T-shirts making their way towards Bondi Beach in the dark at 4.30am next Saturday, here's why.

They are all taking part in the Darkness into Light Sydney walk in aid of suicide prevention and mental health awareness in which participants walk together – many in remembrance of a loved one – from dark into dawn to symbolise hope and recovery from depression 

The annual five-kilometre event was started in Ireland by suicide prevention charity Pieta House in 2009 with just 400 participants .

Ten years on and the event has gone global with an estimated 200,000 expected to take part in 180 cities in 11 countries around the world on May 12.

For the second time, Sydney Swans player-turned-coach, Tadhg Kennelly, 36, is the ambassador for the Sydney event as the cause is one that he and the club are passionate about.

"My journey itself has been difficult at times coming over from the other side of the world as an 18-year-old; it's a cause that's very close to my heart," the Irish sportsman and father-of-three told Fairfax Media.

"One in four people are currently suffering with mental health issues. We all go through some form of mental illness at some point in our lives.

"It's important to create environments where people are able to discuss those issues openly without any stigma." 

Register here for the Darkness into Light Sydney walk.

If you are experiencing a personal crisis, you can contact Lifeline 13 11 14 or lifeline.org.au.