LESS than 12 months ago, Gary Rohan was running around at footy training wearing a Geelong jumper and being called ‘Lingy’ by his teammates, after the flame-haired Cats skipper.

On Sunday afternoon, Rohan will line up against his childhood heroes in real life when he makes his AFL debut for the Sydney Swans at Skilled Stadium.

Rohan and ruckman Mike Pyke will come into the team to replace injured players Dan Hannebery and Mark Seaby.

Rohan even volunteered to tag Cats champion Gary Ablett but Swans coach Paul Roos quickly put the brakes on that idea.

“I told Roosy that and he said ‘No, you’re not good enough yet’, and I went ‘Rightio’,” Rohan recalled on Friday afternoon.

“I idolised Andrew Mackie, so I might be lining up against him in the backline.

“They’re a great club and I’m looking forward to running out against the team I used to barrack for. Hopefully I can just play well, get a couple of kicks and I’ll be happy with that.”

Rohan, who hails from Cobden in south-western Victoria, said his selection to tackle Geelong was the perfect Mother’s Day present for his mum, who encouraged him to persevere with footy despite regularly missing the Geelong Falcons’ junior development squads.

That determination paid off in 2009, when a growth spurt meant the skinny youngster with a huge leap suddenly became a genuine AFL prospect.

That growth continues today, with Rohan adding another five centimetres and six kilos since he was drafted to stand an imposing 190cm and 85kg.

“She made me come back, so I’ve done this for her. I’ve pushed hard and worked hard for her,” he said.

“She’s going to be relieved. All those times that I was told I wasn’t good enough … I believed in myself and worked hard and I’ve got my opportunity,” he said.

Rohan carried that same philosophy into his new career at the Swans, where he has constantly reminded senior coach Paul Roos of his availability for the senior team.

“I walk past his room a fair bit and just put my name up on his board, but he takes it down. I keep putting it up and he takes it down,” he said with a laugh.

“I think he’s gotten sick of me so he’s put me in this week.”