Jarryd Roughead would be a good fit for Carlton, writes Glenn McFarlane

IF Carlton is serious about its search for mature-aged talent to help steer their kids into the future, it has to ask the question to Jarryd Roughead and maybe the Hawks might bite, writes GLENN McFARLANE.

Will Carlton make an offer to Jarryd Roughead? Picture: Getty Images

IF Carlton is serious about its search for mature-aged talent to help steer their kids into the future, it could do a lot worse than to ask the question of Hawthorn’s Jarryd Roughead.

But could a deal possibly be done?

Roughead, 31, is contracted for next year and is this year’s club captain.

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He even expressed disappointment recently when some started to question whether his current form warranted going on again.

Surely he has enough credits in the bank.

Roughead added that his future would not even be up for debate had it not been for what happened to three other modern Hawks’ greats in recent years.

But here’s the rub. Hawthorn has form. Sam Mitchell, Luke Hodge and Jordan Lewis all went on to important mentoring/playing roles at others clubs.

When asked recently about Roughead’s future, coach Alastair Clarkson stressed he was “really keen to see out contracts where we possibly can” and that it could come down to Roughead’s own decision.

Then he added: “His form wouldn’t have been to the standard he would like during the course of this year.

“He’s still contracted and we’re hoping we can put some solid form together, get some wins, get ourselves into the finals, then we’ll talk about it at the end of the year because it’s not something we’re thinking about at the moment.”

Hawthorn captain Jarryd Roughead is keen to play on next season. Picture: Michael Klein

As a remarkably resilient Roughead aims to return from an ankle injury for the finals, there is no doubt a few clubs are watching on with more than a passing interest.

So what happens if a potential suitor — such as Carlton or St Kilda — is prepared to offer him two seasons?

Would he entertain that, despite the obvious pull to the club that has been his home since late 2004 and which supported him through two cancer battles?

And if the Hawks do happen to defy market expectations and secure Gold Coast free agent Tom Lynch, does that change the landscape even further?

There is plenty to suggest Roughead would be an exceptional pick-up for any club looking to have a senior player help out their kids.

At Carlton, how valuable would it be to have the four-time premiership Hawk with a great footy brain and a bag full of experiences work besides the likes of Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay?

Blues young gun Charlie Curnow would benefit from Roughead’s experience. Picture: Getty Images

Carlton has made it clear it is “open minded” about recruiting suitable players with mature bodies to provide the examples for the younger players.

And we know that Blues coach Brendon Bolton has an intimate knowledge of the big Hawk’s many talents — both on and off the field.

Roughead’s loyalty has never been in question across his outstanding AFL career, so he could well lock into his contracted year with the Hawks and hope that good form results in another contract in 2020.

But it would be naive to think there aren’t a couple of rival clubs taking an interest in what is happening to him.

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