While Gary Rohan’s horrific leg break in round four last season was one of the low points of the premiership-winning year, the 22-year-old’s comeback was without a doubt one of the highlights of the 2013 season.

On a sunny Sunday morning at the SCG, 448 days after he broke his leg on the very same ground, Rohan made his long-awaited return for the Swans reserves against UWS in the NEAFL.

Hundreds of Swans’ fans arrived to the ground early to support Rohan, and were on their feet when he ran onto the field in the second half of the match.

His family and friends made the long trip up from Rohan’s home town of Cobden to be there for the popular red-head, who spent nearly 15 months out of the game after he sustained a fractured tibia in April last season.

Rohan kicked two goals in his return to the NEAFL and showed he still possessed the blistering pace that made him one of the club’s most exciting young prospects.

After gradually increasing his playing time over the next month, Rohan was selected to make his return to senior football in the Swans’ round 21 clash with St Kilda at the SCG.

Rohan wore the substitute vest for the first three quarters of the match and was met by enthusiastic applause when he replaced Kurt Tippett on-field just ahead of three-quarter time.

In his first senior game in almost 480 days, Rohan managed five disposals and two marks and looked poised to play many more games of senior football for the Swans.

Rohan finished the season with five more senior games including two more finals under his belt, bringing his career games tally to 27 games.

What they said

“There are not too many players who get a standing ovation when they come back and start playing again in the reserves, so that’s the esteem he’s held in around the footy club,” John Longmire about Rohan’s comeback

“It actually feels like it’s my first game again and it feels like I’ve just come into the club and am making my debut,” Gary Rohan on playing his first game in over a year.

“I’m just so proud of him because it’s been a really hard thing for him to go through, not just physically but mentally as well and he’s come through it and the Rooster is up and about today,” Rhyce Shaw on Rohan’s return to the field.

Coverage

Gaz's back

Beyond The Boundary - Gaz's return

Gary Rohan's return gallery

Gary's return: the fans' story

Rohan's surpassed Longmire's expectations

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