INJURED Sydney Swan Gary Rohan has called into radio talkback to defend Lindsay Thomas and the slide tackle that broke Rohan's leg.
 
Rohan, who suffered a compound fracture in his team's round four-clash against North Melbourne when Lindsay Thomas slid on the wet surface, took the extraordinary step of calling AFL Live's pre-game radio show under the name Gary from Cobden to air his views.
 
Rohan said Thomas's tackled was simply an unfortunate incident that didn't deserve a charge from the Match Review Panel.
 
Thomas was handed a two-match suspension that was eventually dismissed by the AFL Tribunal.
 
"I was told in junior footy to put your body between the opponent and the football. Lindsay Thomas did that," Rohan said.
 
"I thought it was fine. He was first to the ball and I couldn't do anything about it and I was waiting for him to get the ball so I could tackle him."
 
The Swans forward said he could see why the League was looking to crack down on slides but he felt Thomas was innocent.
 
"It's one of those things that happened. I don't think there was anything wrong with it but I understand how the AFL want to change it," he said.
 
"I don't know why he went to ground but he did. There was another one - and I can't remember who it was - but they did a similar thing and he just rolled his ankle. It was just touch and go."
 
Rohan said the Swans had been receiving specialist tackling training to ensure they were applying proper technique.
 
"When you grab them you have to keep your feet and drive through them. That's what we get told at the Swans. It's a bit hard, the tackling situation," he said.
 
"We have a tackling coach and he was a rugby bloke. He has told us the main thing is to keep driving with our legs, don't reach for them, grab them with your chest and drive."
 
Rohan said his leg was recovering well and he was set to begin swimming in a couple of weeks.
 
"I'm into a moon boot for another two or three months," he said.
 
"My bones are healing up really well and when my bone came through my skin it has healed up really good. Slow and steady for the moment."