THEY were the words he’s always dreamt of hearing, but when Cobden’s Gary Rohan was told he would play his first AFL competitive match tomorrow night, he thought the coach was joking.
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Rohan has been named in the Sydney Swans NAB Cup side for tomorrow night’s match against Carlton at Blacktown in western Sydney.
The Swans snapped up Rohan at pick number six in the AFL draft last November on the back of a stellar 2009 where he played for Vic Country and starred at the draft camp.
And while playing his first game for the Swans is a dream come true, the 18-year-old admitted he thought he’d have to wait a little longer before getting a senior call-up.
“One of the coaches just came up to me and I thought he was joking,” Rohan said.
“I was very surprised. I thought maybe half way through the season I’d get a game.
“It hasn’t really sunk in yet. I’m just excited, I can’t wait.”
Rohan said while he expected to start on the bench for the round one NAB Cup match against Carlton, he was confident of getting some good game time playing in the forward line.
Still basking in the news of being named in the side, Rohan said he was just looking forward to running onto the oval with his teammates but conceded his first touch of the footy would be something he’ll never forget.
“Hopefully I’ll get a few touches and kicks,” he said.
“It’s just a dream to be going out there. I have no idea what it will be like.”
It’s been a big couple of months for the teenager who said he was adjusting well to life in Sydney and stepping up to the club’s intense training regime.
“It’s my job and I’m loving it,” he said.
“Before this week, it’s been a lot of running but now we’re resting our bodies so that’s good.
“Everyone’s welcomed me to the club and they are a great bunch of blokes and I love being there.”
And he’s almost got the hang of big-city life.
“I get stuck in one-way streets a lot,” Rohan laughed.
“(Sydney) is a bit different from Cobden. It’s nice though.
“It’s a bit different coming home and not having my family around.”
But his family will be around on Saturday with father Jim, mother Belinda and sisters Jessica, Stacey and Rebecca all set to make the drive to Blacktown Olympic Park, about an hour out of the Sydney CBD, to cheer Rohan on.
“I think a few of the Cobden boys are driving up too,” he added.
The game will be broadcast on Channel Ten and ONE HD from 7.30pm tomorrow night.
