HE has never played the game and doesn’t know a lot about Aussie rules but Mark Kilgallon has emerged as the Sydney Swans’ best Irish recruit since Tadhg Kennelly came to the club 16 years ago.

Kilgallon is Sydney’s new strength coach and is having a dramatic effect on the successful return of long-term injured players Gary Rohan, Ben McGlynn, Jarrad McVeigh, Zak Jones and Sam Reid.

The Irishman previously worked with the Welsh rugby team but is proving a bit of a mystery man after knocking back an interview request from The Daily Telegraph.

While he’s reluctant to talk about himself, the five Swans players he’s helped get back on the field are happy to sing his praises and recognise the role he played in their come backs from injury.

“I did a lot of work with Mark,” Rohan said.

“I did a lot of hamstring work and strength work. He has given a different look and has had me working on my hamstring and gluteals. I haven’t felt this strong in my body and my hamstrings for a long time.”

After being placed on the long-term injury list at the start of the year, Rohan has been in outstanding form in his two games against Hawthorn and North Melbourne.

He was at his explosive best against the Hawks, kicking three goals.

“I feel really good,” Rohan said.

“I feel really confident and my pace is still there which is really good. I’m not worried about going flat out and injuring it again.”

media_camera Zak Jones celebrates his goal with Gary Rohan. Picture: AAP

While Rohan, Reid and McGlynn have all struggled with hamstring injuries, Jones and McGlynn have come back from off-season knee surgeries with similar results.

“Ben McGlynn initiated a lot of it all because he wanted to overcome his hamstring issues which have been happening constantly,” McVeigh said.

“Mark has a great program for all the boys in rehab and the ones who are playing as well and to have your hamstrings and calves ready to stand up to the rigours of an AFL season.

“Sam Reid has taken a bit of time to get things right so we can have him for an extended time and not just fits and spurts.”

Kilgallon has had Reid on a similar program to Rohan and McGlynn and will be hoping for the same results when he returns to senior football in the coming weeks. He played his first game for the year in the Swans’ reserves match against Sydney University on Friday night. He picked up 13 possessions, took four marks and kicked a goal in a solid performance.

He will come into consideration for Saturday’s game against the Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium.