GARY Rohan is a strong chance of returning for the Sydney Swans' run in to the finals and could be set for a homecoming of sorts against Geelong in round 22.
Rohan has spent the past four weeks in the reserves building his form and fitness following his 15-month layoff with a broken leg.
And he may have timed his run nicely for a Swans side that could do with his pace and skills as September looms.
A line-up missing Adam Goodes (knee), Lewis Jetta (shin) and Sam Reid (quad) suffered a disappointing loss to Collingwood on Saturday and needs to bounce back quickly against St Kilda this weekend.
Coach John Longmire said Rohan was unlikely to play this week, but could return to senior football this season.
The 22-year-old was drafted from the Geelong Falcons, grew up barracking for the Cats and also put in one of his best games as a Swan at Simonds Stadium, in round 23, 2011.
"Yeah he's a realistic chance before the end of the season," Longmire told reporters on Monday.
"I'm not sure whether he'll play this week, but he's a realistic chance.
"He's played three or four games and he's come off 18 months, so it's pretty hard to pick it up in three or four games.
"So he's now getting over that soreness-type issues at the back of games and now it's more about coaching the specifics of the game and that's what we're focusing on at the moment.
"We're getting him slowly through that hump of getting through the game and pulling up well and he's been able to do that better and better each week.
"We're now just making sure he's working on his game and getting better in those games."
Rohan showed in his first game back against the GWS reserves last month he'd lost none of his blistering pace and was prepared to throw himself into contests after his long stint on the sidelines.
He could prove a real wildcard for the defending premiers, who were well down against the Pies.
Kurt Tippett kicked six goals and Jarrad McVeigh played his part off half-back and through the midfield, but Longmire was blunt when asked if any other Swans had played well.
"No, there wasn't a widespread contribution that we normally get," he said.
"And we normally play better than that … we've had a real consistent run of form we think.
"But there were a few on the weekend that were a bit disappointed with their games and that's what happens when you get beaten.
"I'm being a little bit flippant there, there were a few players that played pretty well apart from those two, but we didn't have the weight of numbers that we usually get."
While clearly disappointed with his troops' efforts, Longmire used the Collingwood performance as an example of how they need to play, rather than giving them a bake.
He also believes this year's premiership race is wide open.
"Absolutely it is," he said. "No matter what spot on the ladder, it's very competitive for everyone
"The good thing from where we sit is we've been able to play football to this point of the season which allows us to control our own destiny to a certain degree.
"How we go this Sunday is up to us and we want to make sure we play a consistent brand of footy, which we know we can.
"We've been playing that up until last weekend and we've got to get back to doing that."
