ONE day in August has been circled in bold on the calendar of Cobden export Gary Rohan.
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The Sydney Swans utility has his eyes set on the round 22 AFL match against St Kilda to make his long-awaited comeback from injury.
Rohan, however, has a series of fitness tests lined up before he pulls on the red and white guernsey again.
But yesterday, the 20-year-old delighted in the opportunity to put others through their paces in the south-west.
He happily guided South Rovers’ junior training at Walter Oval in Warrnambool before driving back to more familiar surrounds at Cobden to lead the Bombers’ senior session last night.
Rohan, who last visited the region on Mother’s Day earlier this year, told The Standard he was glad to be home.
“I do miss it a fair bit, family, friends, the country,” he said.
“It took a while to adjust, but I’m enjoying it now in Sydney.”
Rohan and his family, including admiring young cousins and Rovers juniors Corey and Brayden Hawkes, might be separated for a while longer yet as the versatile Swan recently signed off on a three-year deal.
The emerging talent’s battle with knee and hamstring niggles this season, which has kept him sidelined since round four, did not seem to deter Sydney.
A bumper debut season last year, featuring nine hard-fought games, was enough to show the Swans he had promise.
He said the Swans have a young group coming through and he was excited to be part of the long-term plans.
“It’s good to know they can see me in the (club’s) future,” he said.
“It’s been frustrating (not playing), but this is only my second year and I’ve got a lot more to come.”
Rohan will fly back north today and after this weekend’s bye will play two games in the reserves.
His return to the big stage is set for August 21 against the Saints at Sydney’s Olympic Park.
If he makes the cut, he will have a further two games to cement his spot in the sixth-placed side before finals.
mrooth@standard.fairfax.com.au
