Hawthorn won’t take sentiment into account when deciding whether to give Jarryd Roughead a farewell game

Sentiment won’t be a factor when Hawthorn decides whether to give one of its modern champions an AFL swan song but coach Alastair Clarkson has provided a glimmer of hope.

Jarryd Roughead is no guarantee to win a re-call for a farewell game with Hawthorn before the end of the year. Picture: AAP Image/Julian Smith.

Hawthorn is refusing to guarantee Jarryd Roughead a farewell game at the club as his hopes of a quick recall drift further.

Roughead had the quietest game of his five-match VFL stint against Essendon this weekend, recording only 11 possessions and failing to kick a goal.

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The four-time premiership star and former captain is content to play out the season rather than retire mid-year after frank discussions with Alastair Clarkson last off-season.

But the expectation was he would at least be granted a farewell game to say goodbye to the fans later in the year even if he had played VFL all year.

But Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson says the club will have to consider the circumstances late in the year if Jarryd Roughead is still out of the side.

Clarkson said he hoped Roughead would win his way back on form, but he would have to take into account the Hawks’ ladder position, opponent and venue.

“I still think there’s every chance he can (finish his career in the seniors),” Clarkson told AFL360 on Monday night.

Jarryd Roughead has been stuck in the VFL since being dropped by Hawthorn. Picture: AAP Image/Julian Smith.

Clarkson said it was a measure of Roughead’s leadership that he had decided to finish out the year rather than retiring mid-season.

“What he did know is he wanted to make a commitment to see out his contract at the club, which had a year to run and whatever path that took, whether it was Hawthorn seniors or Box Hill, he’s prepared to take because he wanted to stay a one-club player,” Clarkson said.

“He made that choice towards the end of last year he wanted to honour that commitment to the club and still make a contribution in some form to the next generation of player to our footy club.”

Hawthorn chief executive Justin Reeves said on the weekend that Roughead would have to earn a spot in the seniors rather than be gifted a farewell game.

“I don’t think you would ever pick someone specifically just for a farewell game,” he said.

“He’s not out of the team permanently. If his form warranted it, he’d be picked in the AFL side.”

Box Hill’s side kicked nine goals on Saturday, with youngster Jackson Ross kicking four of them and Mitchell Lewis kicking two.

Ross is yet to debut while Lewis has kicked seven games in six AFL games this year but dropped after Round 11.

Roughead had taken stints in the ruck and onball during his VFL action in recent weeks but Marc Pittonet was dropped and instead played the entire game in the ruck.