Collingwood should look at signing Jarryd Roughead in the off-season, writes Jay Clark

WOULD Collingwood have beaten West Coast if Jarryd Roughead was playing? The Magpies are lacking a blue-chip key forward and JAY CLARK looks at why the four-time premiership Hawk is their man.

Jarryd Roughead would be a great fit at Collingwood. Picture: Getty Images

COLLINGWOOD has to ask the question of Hawthorn’s Jarryd Roughead.

As much as a development club such as Carlton would benefit from Roughead’s leadership and football wisdom, it would be much more enticing to join a premiership contender.

And the Magpies clearly loom as the perfect home as the club searches for more marking power after missing out on Gold Coast’s Tom Lynch.

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Clearly, Roughy has more good footy left in him, as we saw in the qualifying final loss to Richmond on Thursday night.

He has clean hands, he kicks straight and knows exactly where to lead, even in his final years.

And Roughead would cost virtually nothing in terms of a draft pick swap at trade time.

Like Sam Mitchell and Jordan Lewis, he would be a free hit in that regard.

Should Collingwood make a play for Jarryd Roughead? Picture: Getty Images

It seems awkward right now, just how things sit with Roughead and the Hawks.

Do they want him to hang around for next year?

It’s not altogether clear at Hawthorn, and you could understand why he may be a bit miffed about things at Waverley.

The 31-year-old played angry on Thursday night.

He’s a Hawthorn legend, but the door is clearly ajar for him to join another club, ala Mitchell, Lewis and Luke Hodge.

Roughead’s preference is to stay in brown and gold in 2019, as he has said a few times, and he is contracted for next season.

But he would be a dream get for Nathan Buckley, and Collingwood has shown it is most certainly in the premiership window.

And they clearly need Roughead’s type.

Collingwood doesn’t have a lot of key forward depth, having tried hard but failed to land Suns’ superstar Lynch.

We admire spearhead Mason Cox but the reality is he is still in a developmental phase.

He struggled in Saturday night’s loss to West Coast and will be eager to bounce back.

You wonder if the Pies could have capitalised on their third-term charge against the Eagles with Roughead patrolling the forward 50m arc, not making the fundamental errors which others made in West Coast’s thrilling win.

Aside from his obvious skill, you know the big blood nut makes his teammates better, and walk taller around him.

Mason Cox is still developing at the Pies. Picture: AAP Images

And the industry is clearly paying more respect to the importance of veterans such as Hodge and Sydney’s Jarrad McVeigh these days.

Collingwood’s VFL revelation Brody Mihocek has also battled manfully and played his role this year, but the club isn’t blessed with blue-chip key forwards.

If Cox goes down with injury, who steps up next year?

Jordan De Goey is their most dangerous goal kicker but he will play more in the midfield as he develops.

Roughead works for Collingwood, on and off the field, front and back. We know he is versatile enough to play in all thirds of the ground, even in his twilight.

Like Hodge and Mitchell, give him a two-year deal and allow him to stay at the club in a coaching role, where he would be worth his weight in gold.

In terms of the good-guy factor, leadership, the coaching he provides on-ground, and general smarts, the overall package has to appeal, because the intellectual property Roughead has is gold.

Don’t tell me Cox couldn’t do with a four-time premiership great standing next to him, helping impart the tricks of the trade.

How many games would he have played in black and white this year? Plenty.

Ask yourself Collingwood fans, who would you rather? Roughead or the bloke you take at pick 80?

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