COCK-A HOOPS
Rohan happy to be back home
GEELONG recruit Gary Rohan has brushed aside concerns that his body cannot handle the rigours of AFL football, declaring his best footy is still in front of him.
Rohan officially became a Cat yesterday after Sydney accepted pick 61 from Geelong, which the Cats had previously acquired as part of the Lincoln McCarthy trade to Brisbane.
The 27-year-old has been plagued by injuries since joining the Swans at the end of 2009 and has managed just 106 games in nine seasons, but said he was ready to make a fresh start at Geelong.
“I don’t have any off-season injuries this year, I have had no surgeries, so hopefully I can get stuck into pre-season and a new start, I think, will be good for me,” Rohan said.
“I have still got my best footy in front of me. I haven’t played my best footy yet due to consistent injuries and I think that is what a lot of people were worried about.
“But I am pretty confident all of that is finished and I can keep moving forward now.”
Rohan endured one of the toughest years of his life in 2018, with he and wife Amie celebrating the birth of twins, Bella and Willow, only to lose Willow to the terminal condition anencephaly five hours after she was born.
The former Geelong Falcon, who hails from Cobden, conceded he was disappointed by the way that Sydney communicated its desire to move him on, but said he and Amie were thrilled by the prospect of being closer to family.
“After what we went through this year we thought it would be nice to pick up the phone and ring the family just around the corner to help us if we need,” Rohan said.
“So that was a big reason, but it was a bit both ways. The Swans didn’t really want me any more and I didn’t really want to be there so I just said if they didn’t want me to send me back to Geelong.
“I had a bit of notice from my manager and then when I had a chat to them they said they would look for a trade so I said the only place I wanted to go was Geelong.
“I am just glad it is done and I am looking forward to going down to the Cats. They were the team I grew up barracking for, and they have an exciting list. Hopefully we can play finals in the next couple of years and hopefully I can be a part of it.”