FANS with tickets booked for next week’s elimination final between Sydney and Essendon should be ready for crowd participation if Gary Rohan’s effort against Carlton is any guide.
Moments after Rohan scored the first of his three goals against the Blues he was in the front row of the Bradman Stand getting to know the red and white faithful.
The amazing sequence of events was captured by the Daily Telegraph’s award-winning photographer Phil Hillyard.
“I have got to learn to work out where the fence is before I start celebrating,” Rohan said.
“I went to celebrate and then I saw the fence was coming at me a bit too quick, I went to pull up but I was a bit late and the fence is a bit low at that end. I gave the crowd a bit of entertainment by jumping the fence.”
The Swans star was among friends so took his time before returning to the field.
“I was trying to get up and everyone was jumping on me,” Rohans said.
“It was pretty funny at the time. They were loving it.”
If the Swans were framing a market for the player most likely to end up in the crowd, Rohan would be a short-priced favourite. It’s not just his blinding speed which puts him in danger of not pulling up in time he’s the sort who loves to get involved in everything. His latest occupation outside the club is working with the juniors at the Swans Academy.
“Every Monday I head down to the academy and help out,” Rohan said.
“I’m interested in coaching, I love coaching kids and watching them develop so I help out. It’s good for me to learn about coaching styles and work with the coaches there. I can’t sit still so instead of going home to sit on the couch I head over to help.”
Originally published as Rohan, goin’, gone: Swan dive explained