Gary Rohan enjoying life at Geelong after making big decision to leave Sydney Swans

New Geelong recruit Gary Rohan was initially hesitant to leave Sydney at the end of last year but as it turns out, it was the best possible move for him. He reveals why he feels right at home at the Cats and how he plans to attack this season.

Gary Rohan is enjoying being back home in Victoria. Picture: Alison Wynd

A summer of golf, fishing and family time has left Geelong recruit Gary Rohan feeling refreshed as he looks to put a difficult 2018 behind him and help improve the Cats’ September prospects.

Initially hesitant to leave Sydney during last year’s trade period after nine years with the Swans, Rohan said the move home to Victoria had proven to be the best thing for him.

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A Geelong Falcons junior, Rohan grew up in Cobden about 90 minutes’ drive from the Cattery and said he was enjoying being back around family and friends.

The 27-year-old and wife Amie lost one of their twin daughters — Willow — just five hours after birth last April, beginning a testing 2018 which also saw Rohan break his hand in July and play only 11 games for the Swans.

Gary Rohan is enjoying being back home in Victoria. Picture: Alison Wynd

“It was a big decision (to leave Sydney) but I think it’s the right decision I made,” Rohan said.

“I’m loving it down here. It’s a great bunch of blokes. My on-field and off-field situation is better.

“I can leave the club and get home and switch off. I’ve got a lot of mates around the Geelong area as well so I catch up with them a fair bit and play golf and go fishing which has helped me a lot I think.

“I go back into the club and I’m freshened up and I get straight back into it.”

Rohan has been training with the forwards group over pre-season but said coach Chris Scott had hinted he could also spend time across halfback or even on a wing if he continues to build fitness.

Rohan completes running training alongside Patrick Dangerfield. Picture: Alison Wynd

The 189cm speedster said while he would miss playing alongside Sydney superstar Lance ‘Buddy’ Franklin he was looking forward to working with Cats key forwards Tom Hawkins and Esava Ratugolea to help improve the forward connection and build forward pressure.

“Everyone says I fluctuate through games and I’ve got every right to get the deck chair out in the forward line and watch Buddy go to work. It was pretty amazing,” Rohan said.

“Hawkins and Buddy are different players so hopefully I can get my hands onto the ball a bit more and get my attack game back into my strengths.

“They recruited (Luke) Dahlhaus and me for a reason so hopefully we can do our job for the club.

“I think we’re going in the right direction but hopefully we can just keep the ball in the forward line longer. That’s how you win games.”