An image of AFL premiership forward Gary Rohan training with a gruesome scar just a week after requiring surgery on his fractured skull has sent American sports fans into meltdown.

Rohan showed up at Geelong’s run on Monday to do some light work as his teammates prepared themselves for Saturday’s preliminary final against Brisbane at the MCG.

The 33-year-old, who would be incredibly unlikely to play again this year, displayed a huge scar across his head with 30 staples visible.

The Cats veteran copped an accidental elbow to the head during the first quarter of Geelong’s VFL semi-final loss against Southport just over a week ago.

Despite not needing assistance to get to the change rooms, he was taken to hospital for further assessment, where scans confirmed the worst.

He later shared a harrowing update and a photo of him lying in a hospital bed being comforted by his wife Madi.

American sports network ESPN has since shared images of Rohan training with staples in his head on social media, and fans could not believe what they were seeing.

‘Bro should not be on the field,’ one stunned Instagram user commented.

Rohan made a surprise appearance with his teammates on Monday after requiring surgery on his fractured skull – and showed off the gruesome after-effects of the operation

‘Them Aussie Rules guys are on a whole different level of toughness and craziness,’ one wrote. 

‘NBA players would’ve been 6 feet under,’ said another.

‘This is why women outlive us,’ posted a fourth.

‘Get him off the field,’ said another.

‘Are the guy’s elbows made out of knives?’ another asked, referring to the player who gave Rohan the injury. 

Many US fans also compared the Cats star to NFL star Tua Tagovailoa in their replies.

Tagovailoa will miss at least the next four NFL games after sustaining his fourth diagnosed concussion in five years in Miami’s 31-10 loss to Buffalo last weekend.

Another commenter measured NBA superstar LeBron James against Rohan and found the American wanting.

‘Lebron out here flopping cuz someone slapped his head and this warrior is out here with a broken skull,’ they wrote.

It was another frightening moment for a quarterback, who has a long history of head injuries and has left many calling for him to retire aged just 26.

Meanwhile, Rohan has been given the go ahead to play again once his concussion symptoms clear up. 

Rohan posted a photo from hospital with his wife Madi (pictured) while awaiting surgery after suffering a the horror injury during a VFL match

He had been plotting a comeback to the Cats senior team, which has booked its spot into an AFL preliminary final and is now one win away from the grand final.

‘The medical staff assure us that the fracture, and the surgery itself, looks a lot worse than it actually is,’ said Geelong coach Chris Scott while appearing on Channel 7’s Talking Footy.

‘The concussion is the bigger concern. So he is ruled out for this week but he has progressed through the protocols really well I’m told.

‘The mail is that he’s available.’

Rohan has split his season between the senior and VFL reserve team this year, last featuring in his 12th senior appearance of the year in a round 23 loss to St Kilda.