After 12 months of training with Ocean Grove while playing in the state’s southwest, Geelong premiership player Gary Rohan has joined the Bellarine club.
The Grubbers have confirmed tonight the signing of the 34-year-old, who played 98 games and kicked 120 goals in six seasons with the Cats after 106 games and 96 goals with Sydney.
Rohan spent 2025 with Hampden league club Port Fairy, but only managed 10 appearances for 12 goals after injury ended his season.
The dynamic forward will play around his commitments with Essendon, where he is working with the Bombers’ AFL and VFL programs, which could limit him to as few as six appearances.
“The OGFNC is excited to announce that former Sydney Swan and Geelong Cat Gary Rohan will be donning the red and white in 2006,” a Facebook post said.
“The Ocean Grove local has been training with our senior side for the past 12 months, has been previously connected to our junior program and is the number one ticket holder.
“It feels only natural that he now officially becomes a Grubber.”
From Cobden, Rohan was drafted in 2009 from the Geelong Falcons with pick six by the Swans, with his nine seasons in the Harbour City injury-impacted, including a horrific lower leg injury in early 2012.
He was traded to the Cats at the end of 2018 and is fondly remembered by Geelong fans for his performance in the 2022 qualifying final, which helped pave the way for the club’s premiership, and his goal after the siren to beat the Western Bulldogs at GMHBA Stadium in 2021.
Rohan is the third signing unveiled by Ocean Grove this week, following Baden Pohlner (Shepparton Bears) and Blake Poyser (South Bendigo).
The Grubbers, who finished on the bottom of the Bellarine ladder for the first time since the competition’s inaugural season in 1971, have practice matches scheduled against East Geelong, Terang and North Shore.
They will host reigning premier Anglesea on Good Friday to open the new season.
X: @krockfootball
