NEARLY 15 months after the incident that changed his life, young Sydney Swan Gary Rohan is finally ready to return to action.

It has been a long and painful road for the 22-year-old, who contemplated quitting the sport during his difficult rehab from that broken leg suffered against North Melbourne in round four last year.

But he persevered, leaning on the support he received from teammates, family members and other AFL players who had overcome similar injuries.

On Sunday, 448 days after giving a thumbs up to the crowd as he was carried from the field on a stretcher, Rohan will run onto the SCG for the second half of the Swans reserves' game against Greater Western Sydney.

"It's been really hard, mentally and physically," Rohan told AFL.com.au.

"A couple of times it got that hard that I actually thought about stopping and giving up.

"But I've got my mentor Rhyce Shaw, and (Fremantle's) Michael Barlow and (Brisbane Lion) Matt Maguire have been a great help to me, telling me what they went through and what they did positively and what they did wrong.

"I just took their advice and went with it.

"I had a really good month earlier in the year and kept getting better and that's when I knew if I kept going like that, I'd be back for sure."

The bones in Rohan's leg have been healed for some time, but regaining his fitness and overcoming some associated injury problems was the main stumbling block.

"When I started running, I couldn't run more than five minutes," he explained.

"My leg was getting sore, my ankle was getting sore, my knee was getting sore.

"It was just getting frustrating that I couldn’t do it.

"It just got in my head that it was going to be hard, but I stuck to it."

Prior to his injury, Rohan was emerging as one of the most exciting young talents in the competition.

Pick No.6 in the 2009 NAB AFL Draft, he played 18 games over his first two seasons, featuring in the last three home-and-away games and the Swans' two finals of 2011.

He starred against the Cats in round 23 that season, when the Swans ended Geelong's 29-game home winning streak.

But after playing the first four games of 2012, disaster struck just minutes into the game against the Kangaroos in an incident that has been broadcast countless times.

The likeable youngster from the small country town of Cobden in southern Victoria admits he got tired of seeing it.

"When people slide in they always brought my footage up," he said. "I just got sick of it.

"Every time I see someone slide in now I cringe a bit."

Coach John Longmire has been another major supporter, constantly reminding the young red-head he is considered a long-term player at the club.

Senior football isn't on the agenda just yet, but Rohan's progress has given the rest of the playing group a boost.

"It's been a lift having him out on the training track," Longmire said.

"He's got terrific enthusiasm and he's a very popular player.

"It would be great to see him play 30 minutes of footy at any level."

Rohan has regained his confidence, and says he doesn't hesitate if someone runs at him.

He has also had plenty of well-wishers and there is one question people always bring up.

"I've still got my pace. That's what everyone asks me," he said.

"Not how am I going, it's always 'how's the pace going?'.

Rohan watched the Swans claim last year's premiership, giving Shaw a big hug on the ground as the celebrations began.

It gave him some extra motivation.

"I'm still very young, which is good," Rohan said.

"I love this club. Even though I wasn't part of the Grand Final, it's just the drive and the hunger that I want.

"The feeling I had that day drove me and pushed me through my rehab.

"Hopefully my time will come soon."

The playing group has been thrilled by Rohan's progress.

"It's obviously been a long road for the kid," Shaw said.

"He's fought really hard both mentally and physically to get back and it's just a real credit to him.

"He's had some really hard times, but he's here now, he's playing this week and it's a fantastic effort.

"We all know what he's been through and we're all proud of him."

Rohan feels he now has a better understanding of the game and has also matured significantly during his long lay-off.

His leg muscles are much stronger than when he suffered the injury and he can't wait to play alongside Kurt Tippett, who Rohan trained with during the former Crow's suspension.

But he'll start with this week, when there are sure to be some extra onlookers in the stands as one of the club's favourite young sons takes a massive step forward in his career.

"I'll be pretty nervous the night before and will have the game running through my head that night," he said.

"It will be quite emotional I reckon.

"It's a long road, but I've finally got here and the boys are up and about, which gets me up and about.

"They can't wait to get me back out there, which is even better."

James Dampney is a reporter for AFL Media. Follow him on Twitter @AFL_JD