Sydney Swans’ rookie Luke Brennan will make his return to senior football this weekend after years of injury trouble.
“It’s been a long time coming, actually,” said Brennan, before the Swans’ trained on Thursday evening.
“I obviously had an operation last year, which put me out for a little while. I was hoping for this year just to get my body right and play some decent footy, and hopefully get put on the list for next year.”
“But obviously things have been going pretty well, and my body’s finally looking after me. The chance came up, so I got put up.”
Brennan, who was recruited by Hawthorn with their first round draft pick (number eight overall) in the 2002 National draft, was picked up by the Swans late in last year’s rookie draft. After youngster Daniel O’Keefe was place on the long-term injury list, Brennan took his place on the senior list, and will run out in the red and white for the first time on Saturday night.
“It was a little bit unexpected from my point of view,” said Brennan.
“Obviously one of the young guys went down, and a spot on the list opened up. I got the chance, which is nice.”
After being dropped from Hawthorn’s playing list at the end of the 2006 season, Brennan remained hopeful he’d get a second chance at another club.
“It’s a tough one. You always think you’re a chance to get picked up, but the nature of the competition means there are a lot of people in my position as well.”
“I was hoping to get picked up, and I was lucky that the Swans saw enough in me to put me on the rookie list, which I’ve very grateful for.”
Brennan said the weight of expectation on him has been significantly lighter since he arrived in Sydney.
“Once you’ve been delisted once, people tend to forget about you a little bit, which is nice. They seem to let you do your own thing, which I’ve been doing this year, and it’s worked out well.”
“I was a reasonably high draft pick when I went, so it’s been a bit of a change around for me from having a fair bit of pressure early in my career to not much later on, which is sort of the opposite to a lot of other bloke. I’ve done it backwards.”
Brennan is unsure of the role he will play in this weekend’s match. He is one of four inclusions for the Swans, who regain Barry Hall, Tadhg Kennelly and Amon Buchanan.
“I think I’ve got to keep an open mind this weekend. I could be going back or could be going forward, I’m not exactly sure at the moment. I’m starting on the bench, and we’ll work out what happens from there.”
In a fortunate turn of events, Brennan’s parents will be in Sydney to see their son’s Swans’ debut.
“I was pretty lucky actually. Mum and Dad had organized to come up anyway, going back two or three weeks. It’s perfect timing on their part, to get the chance to come up and have a look at me, which will be nice for them. I think they’re pretty excited.”