Jarryd Roughead personifies everything that is Hawthorn and Dermott Brereton hopes he reaches game 300

CERTAIN types of players personify everything their club stands for. They are rare players that embody all of the clubs’ values and behaviours. That is Jarryd Roughead at Hawthorn, writes Dermott Brereton.

Jarryd Roughead celebrates with Hawks fans after the win over Sydney.

CERTAIN types of players personify everything their club stands for.

They are rare players and they are the embodiment of all of the clubs’ values and behaviours. When the time comes, they are hard to let go.

How we let these celebrated players go is the most difficult time in their career.

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Jarryd Roughead is one such player.

A champion bloke, a champion footballer, a leader among men and clearly, because of his well documented fight against cancer, someone with real mental strength and resilience.

Hawthorn has already lost three of their four-time premiership players.

Jarryd Roughead celebrates with Hawks fans after the win over Sydney.

Sam Mitchell was exited with as much respect as possible, given that he wanted to pursue a career of coaching and a little more playing time. Consequently, there was no bartering for his services.

He was traded to West Coast for a draft choice closer to 100 than 50 so that he could move to the Eagles and smoothly pursue his next phase of his footballing journey.

Jordan Lewis after the initial shock was less cordial, but nonetheless an easy trade once his preferred club had been determined.

Melbourne received Lewis and picks 57 and 68. In return, the Hawks received picks 48 and 66.

Jordan’s speech at his media conference revealed just how much Hawthorn meant to him.

The club was a better place for his services.

Luke Hodge retired on top with dignity and shortly afterwards decided to take up the challenge of assisting and teaching Chris Fagan’s young Brisbane backline.

Hawthorn’s four-time premiership players (from left) Cyril Rioli, Jordan Lewis, Sam Mitchell, Jarryd Roughead, Grant Birchall and Luke Hodge. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

No right-minded Hawthorn fan could begrudge Hodge for crossing to any club of his choice and in whatever capacity after all the glorious service he gave the club.

And Cyril Rioli, just as magically as he played, he magically departed up to his home in the Northern Territory where his heart wants to be.

So Roughead remains and he is the captain.

The younger version of Roughy was an incredibly good player. One would think, destined for Hall of Fame honours.

His best was incredibly good.

The current version of Roughy is still good, not incredibly good like it once was, but still good. An honest view would also point out that he isn’t producing his current best as regularly these days, but when he does produce, it is exactly what his team needs.

Jarryd Roughead celebrates his match-winning goal against Sydney last year. Picture: Phil Hillyard

For a big man he use to have exceptional pace over short distances, an agile sidestep and a good vertical leap off two feet to aid his overhead marking courtesy of a solid upbringing in basketball as well as footy.

None of these attributes have deserted him, but they are understandably on the wane.

But forever changing his team’s game style and positional deployment, coach Alastair Clarkson has used Roughy in the latter part of this year as a mobile forward (which is normal for him) but also as the Hawks second ruckman.

Should he run up against the league’s smallest regular second ruckman Shaun Grigg, Roughy will still dwarf him.

Grigg has proved his worth in the role and is a premiership player in the supporting ruck role. But for obvious reasons Roughy will throw something different at Grigg than all other second ruckman that Grigg has combated.

But more about that upcoming battle during next week.

Roughy has played 273 games and is a slim chance of bringing up 300 games. I hope he does.

Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson with Lance Franklin and Jarryd Roughead in 2004.

His history is remarkable - he was drafted at No.2 in the 2004 national draft - and he is the only player in the top 30 choices from that draft that is still playing at his original club (Mark LeCras at No.37 is the only other player to do likewise).

Every other player from that draft is either out of the system or at a second or third club.

Football is a business of talent identification, leverage and harsh decisions for the long term good of a club. But there is still a small space for romance to filter through.

Some clubs that are starved of success tend to celebrate their stars a little more than the clubs that have premiership success.

That can end up affecting how those teams exit their champion star players and keep them on the list a little longer than the grace that they should have been afforded. In turn the list can take a little longer to rejuvenate.

Hawthorn has a history of ex players that have retired or been retired just before milestone games.

On first glance it can appear a little heartless, but inside Hawthorn they have always worn it as a badge of honour. Whatever amount of games you played, you know that you have earned each and every one of them in your own right.

Roughy’s best is still worthy of the captaincy and just like a true footballing romantic, I hope he earns each and every game up to 300.