AT A TIME when the Sydney Swans are missing some of their blue-chip stocks, Gary Rohan is re-emerging as a nightmare prospect for their upcoming finals opponents.

Rohan has made it through three games since his long layoff with a broken leg, building his game time and impact each time.

Amidst initial concerns he may not be able to sustain consecutive weeks at the top level, he has shown impressive resilience so far.

Soft tissue issues and other associated complaints are commonplace for athletes recovering from broken legs and while Rohan had some setbacks during his recovery, it has been reasonably smooth sailing since his return as a substitute against St Kilda in round 21.

Following a final-quarter cameo against the Saints, Rohan played 68 per cent of the match against Geelong and then lifted that to 76 per cent game time in the clash with Hawthorn last Friday night.

That match also allowed him to finally unleash a move that had been more than a year in the pipeline.

"I'm getting better each week fitness-wise and getting back to the structures and all of that sort of stuff," Rohan said.

"I keep getting corkies in the first quarter and struggle a bit, but I'm pulling up really well and then get into training the next week.

"I kicked my first goal back and I'd been working on my celebration for 15 months.

"I went a bit over the top."

Raising his right arm with his index finger pointed high towards the crowd, he then unleashed a series of fist pumps, in his own words "trying to get the crowd involved and spark a bit of energy".

It was part of a two-minute cameo that showed just how dangerous the 22-year-old can be.

Firstly the Swans moved the ball all the way from fullback down to Mike Pyke, who took a mark just outside the forward 50m.

The big Canadian spotted Rohan charging towards him and gave off the handball, with the redhead putting on the afterburners and kicking truly on the run from 45m.

Ninety seconds later, Craig Bird found Rohan all alone in the forward line and his set shot from almost the same spot sailed straight through the middle.

And it's not just his offensive abilities; Rohan's pace also makes him a menacing defensive prospect.

For a side missing some serious pace and star power in Adam Goodes, Lewis Jetta, Sam Reid, Marty Mattner and Rhyce Shaw, Rohan's return has been particularly timely.

"He doesn't need to get a lot of the ball to have an impact," coach John Longmire said.

"He kicked a couple of goals in the second quarter against Hawthorn and looked really lively and then got a couple of really important chase-down tackles.

"That's the area we love that he brings to the game, making the opposition nervous when they've got the ball and they're trying to get it out of their backline.

"He's coming from a long way back, but he's had a good, solid month of football now, or six or seven weeks including the reserves, and he's building."

Next up is a rematch against the Hawks in Friday's qualifying final at the MCG, a ground Rohan hasn't played at since a semi-final also against Hawthorn back in 2011.

For a young man who didn’t know if he'd be playing at all this season, Rohan is loving every minute of it.

"It's always a dream playing at the MCG," he said.

"All over the ground we match up with them pretty well. They got on top in a couple of centre bounces last week, but our defenders were really strong.

"Little things like that we can fix up and we'll be right.

"I just have to get through the week first, but I didn't think I was going to play finals at all this year.

"I can't wait."