Jarryd Roughead has stepped down as Hawthorn captain after two years in the job

Four-time premiership player Jarryd Roughead has stepped down as Hawthorn captain, saying it was an honour and privilege to lead the club for two years after replacing Luke Hodge.

Jarryd Roughead will not captain Hawthorn in 2019.

ISAAC Smith and Liam Shiels will spend the summer auditioning for Hawthorn’s captaincy after Jarryd Roughead on Tuesday stepped down after two years at the helm.

Roughead was elected captain only months after again winning a fight against a melanoma that had spread to his lungs but is keen to focus on his own form.

The 31-year-old four-time premiership star will play on next year but not before some uncertainty about his role as he and coach Alastair Clarkson worked through his future.

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Roughead is contracted for next year and determined to go out on a high after kicking 34.24 in a year with a handful of flat spots but some excellent games.

Smith and Shiels are joint vice captains in a leadership group that also includes Jack Gunston and Ben Stratton.

That group is elected via a player vote, but Smith and Shiels would be the obvious candidates to step up and carry on the legacy of Hawks captains Luke Hodge, Sam Mitchell and Roughead.

Jarryd Roughead and vice captains Liam Shiels and Isaac Smith. Picture: Michael Klein

Tom Mitchell and Jaeger O’Meara would be candidates to step up into the leadership group, but Shiels has long been seen as a future Hawks captain despite his lack of external recognition.

Roughead has been one of the game’s most popular figures after his public fight against melanomas that at one stage threatened his life.

But at 31 and with speculation about his spot in the side sure to intensify if he starts the season slowly, it was the perfect time to hand over the captaincy.

“Being captain is a big responsibility and I think the best thing for the team right now is that I focus on my own game and getting the best out of myself on the field,’’ Roughead said.

“Of course, I’ll still be around to support whoever fills the role next, but I think the club is ready for a new player to lead.”

Hawks football boss Graham Wright made clear it was Roughead’s decision to move on after a season in which he kicked five goals in two finals.

The Hawks overachieved to finish the year with a double chance but despite a straight-sets departure have a bright future under newly resigned coach Clarkson.

“When “Rough” let us know of his intentions to step down from the role and focus on his footy, he had our complete support,’ Wright said.

Jarryd Roughead will not captain the Hawks next year. Picture: AAP Images

“With “Rough” stepping down, we will take the opportunity to evaluate our leadership model and decide upon the best process for appointing the new captain.

“We will spend the pre-season exploring this and at the conclusion of the process we will appoint the next captain of our club.”

Roughead conceded late in the year he could have better handled the speculation about his future but had no hesitation in honouring the last season of his contract.

“As long as I am still doing what I can on the weekend, it means I can still contribute to this side and play,” he told the Herald Sun.

“I am only 31, it’s not as if I am long in the tooth — I have just got no hair and have had a couple of injuries over the last couple of years, so it’s getting used to playing at high speed.”

Originally published as Jarryd Roughead has stepped down as Hawthorn captain after two years in the job