Speedster stars to finally banish bad memories of 2012
GARY Rohan came full circle on Friday night, leaving his career-threatening leg injury in the past and playing a key role in the Sydney Swans' crushing preliminary final victory over North Melbourne.
The Swans trampled all over the Kangaroos to the tune of 71 points at ANZ Stadium to storm into next week's Grand Final, and Rohan was a key player in perhaps the best game of his career.
Twenty-nine months ago, coincidentally against the same opposition, Rohan had his right leg crushed underneath him in a sliding tackle from Lindsay Thomas at the SCG.
It led to months of rehabilitation, lingering pain and side effects, and plenty of self-doubt.
But that was all forgotten in a dazzling preliminary final display.
Showing his trademark acceleration, Rohan was a threat all over the ground, helping himself to a career-best 23 possessions.
He threw in 10 one-percenters, six inside 50s and five marks, and afterwards, Swans coach John Longmire could barely contain his joy for the 23-year-old.
"I just thought he played a terrific offensive-defensive game," Longmire said.
"Both sides of the ball he was able to defend well, he had some terrific spoils, and I thought he was really clean below his knees.
"His ability to just take off with pace from our defensive 50 gave us some real bite.
"We've been working on that all year; we played him down in defence in our reserves to teach him a few things for a number of weeks, and he was able to do that.
"I just saw his family (in the change room), and I saw them a couple of years ago when he was sitting up in hospital with a broken leg.
"They're pretty proud people at the moment, which is terrific."
Rohan wasn't the only good news story for the Swans, with Ben McGlynn also playing his part to help the club into the Grand Final, where either Hawthorn or Port Adelaide awaits.
While Rohan sat out the 2012 flag-winning campaign with his broken leg, McGlynn was the hard luck story of that year's finals series, injuring his hamstring in the qualifying final victory over Adelaide.
He fought a losing battle to get back into the side, and watched on as the Swans beat the Hawks to win the flag.
Injury also curtailed his 2013 campaign, keeping him out of last year's semi-final victory over Carlton.
But playing a new role predominantly through the midfield, McGlynn has been a revelation this season, chipping in with 19 touches, six inside 50s and a goal on Friday night.
"He's been stiff a couple of times," Longmire said in reference to McGlynn's September troubles over the past two seasons.
"He was one of the blokes I grabbed straight after the game, and it was terrific to be able to experience what Grand Final week is about for a bloke like Benny McGlynn.
"We fully know the work is in front of us. It's not finished, we've got that very much in front of us this week.
"But for a bloke like Benny or Gary, it's good for them to reflect for half an hour tonight when they get home over a cup of tea, get up tomorrow and enjoy that week, but know we've still got two-and-a-half hours of work."