Rohan racing to full fitness
Injured Swan Gary Rohan will be back running in November and hopes to hit 2013 at peak fitness
THE SUN continues to shine on the Sydney Swans, with an important part of their forward structure on track to hit 2013 at peak fitness.
In the wake of Kurt Tippett's decision to seek a trade to the premiers comes news injured speedster Gary Rohan is making strong progress in his return from a broken leg, with his campaign towards full fitness to increase in the coming weeks.
The Swans are confident the 21-year-old will play a significant role in their premiership defence
"I should be running in November," Rohan said.
"I do a lot of swimming, a lot of leg weights trying to get my muscles back to strength."
Rohan, from Cobden in Victoria's south-west, suffered a compound fracture in his right leg in a shocking collision with North Melbourne forward Lindsay Thomas in round four.
Thomas was handed a two-match suspension that was eventually dismissed by the AFL Tribunal.
Rohan then took the extraordinary step of ringing into talkback radio to defend Thomas, dialling in as Gary from Cobden to explain his feelings on the slide tackle.
Rohan had played all four of the Swans' opening matches in 2012 as a forward and is a certain part of John Longmire's plans.
Selected with pick No. 6 in the 2009 NAB AFL Draft, Rohan's skill and speed will be a huge asset in 2013. Many at the Swans say he is quicker than fellow forward-cum-midfielder Lewis Jetta.
Add Tippett, Sam Reid and Adam Goodes to that forward mix and the Swans look as potent as any team in the competition.
An emotional Rohan watched from the stands as the Swans beat Hawthorn in the 2012 Grand Final and rushed onto the field after the final siren to embrace flatmate Dan Hannebery.
"Lewis Jetta and my housemate Dan Hannebery I'm close with, and I'm just very proud of the boys," Rohan said.
"They were great (in the Grand Final). As soon as they get going the entire team gets going."
Like Ben McGlynn (another Swan to miss the Grand Final through injury) Rohan says the 2012 glory will act as a spur this pre-season.
"It drives me. I had a great start to the year until I broke my leg," he said. "(I'm) quite emotional that I missed out, but so excited I'm going to be in the same team next year and I'm more determined to come back.
"Preliminary final it hit me pretty hard (realising I would miss out on a Grand Final), but during the week I got around the boys and got a bit excited. When the siren went I got a bit emotional."
And Rohan is in little doubt the tightknit Swans will be hungry for further success in 2013 and beyond.
"We're a great, united bunch and that's what keeps us together," he said.