Jordan Roughead fills Collingwood’s biggest needs after off-season arrival from Western Bulldogs

While Dayne Beams stole the headlines during Collingwood’s trade period, it’s quiet acquisition of premiership big man Jordan Roughead could be its smartest piece of off-season business.

Jordan Roughead in action at Collingwood training.

The Dayne Beams bombshell received a heap of the trade-time attention.

The will-he-or-won’t-he break his Brisbane contract was certainly a dramatic storyline as the Pies handed over two first-round picks for the All-Australian midfielder.

But it was Collingwood’s other, much-less-talked about end-of-season move which could ultimately prove to be even more important for the Pies’ flag prospects.

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Certainly, the decision to snare former Western Bulldogs’ big man Jordan Roughead with pick No.75, even though he was a free agent, looks to be one of the most astute additions of the exchange period.

The premiership big man is not only on track to stand Tom Hawkins in the blockbuster season-opener against Geelong, he single-handedly addresses Collingwood’s biggest vulnerability.

This swap for a fifth-round pick has effectively popped a Panadol on Nathan Buckley’s greatest on-field worry for 2019.

Jordan Roughead stretches alongside fellow trade arrival Dayne Beams.

The beauty of Roughead, 28, is that he can play reliable key defence, where Collingwood was severely tested last year, and can help cover ruckman Brodie Grundy.

Grundy going down injured was previously the doomsday scenario for the Pies.

Somehow, he played 26 matches last year.

But even if Grundy misses games, they’ve now got an athletic premiership big man as an adequate replacement.

While the past two years have been a write-off for a lot of Bulldogs, we remember how important Roughead was in the 2016 flag, recovering from a serious eye injury to take on the Swans.

The Pies could use Mason Cox as back-up ruck, but the truth is they don’t want to.

Jordan Roughead kicks under pressure from Brodie Grundy. Picture: Michael Klein

Collingwood desperately wants to keep Cox in attack to maintain the same forward structure.

Roughead’s role this year will be to stand the most dangerous key forward, and then give Grundy 5-10 minutes a quarter chop-out in the ruck.

Collingwood was beaten in the aerial battle by West Coast twice in September and the Pies subsequently put up the trade period Bat signal.

The club was forced to use veteran Tyson Goldsack, following his remarkable six-month recovery from a knee reconstruction, on spearhead Josh Kennedy. An unenviable task for an under-sized defender, and Goldsack performed valiantly.

But six months on, that job would now go to 138-gamer Roughead or Darcy Moore. Maybe Lynden Dunn.

Ben Reid could start in the VFL as a forward unless he leapfrogs Brodie Mihocek in the JLT Series.

Suddenly, the Pies have key position depth.

Mason Cox and Jordan Roughead battle at Collingwood training.

The new Collingwood role is a big change for Roughead from recent years where he played only three per cent game time in defence last year, and four per cent in 2016.

Ironically, Roughead seemed headed for the Eagles until things fell through and Collingwood list chief Ned Guy swooped with a two-year deal. West Coast ended up with ex-Saint Tom Hickey.

The bonus for Collingwood is that Roughead is a fabulous locker room guy, and was one of the most popular players at the Kennel, before things went sideways.

Adam Treloar said the Pies were thrilled with Roughead’s summer.

“He has been first class for us,” Treloar said.

“He’s really going to strengthen up wherever he plays. His experience and versatility is unreal.”

Roughead’s form hasn’t been great over the past two years, and perhaps the fresh start is a good thing.

He’ll have a point to prove and for Collingwood, his arrival comes at the perfect time.

You can hear Bucks breathe a sigh of relief from here.