Hawthorn’s Jarryd Roughead back on track for pre-season training

HAWTHORN star Jarryd Roughead has hit the track at Waverley Park this morning as he continued pre-season training after being cleared of the melanoma that threatened his life.

Hawthorn AFL training Jarryd Roughead. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

HAWTHORN star Jarryd Roughead hit the track at Waverley Park this morning as he continued pre-season training after being cleared of the melanoma that threatened his life.

The premiership forward didn’t play a game this year and has been receiving immunotherapy treatment for a melanoma recurrence discovered in May.

Roughead endured serious side affects from the treatment that included a loss of colour and weight, vomiting and draining him of all energy, leaving him bedridden at times.

But, after re-joining his teammates at the club’s first full preseason training session, Roughead got positive results from a PET scan that indicates he can now return to normal life.

His 2008 premiership teammate Campbell Brown said Roughead had remained positive throughout the ordeal, insistent that he was not only going to beat the insidious disease, but that he was going to play AFL football again.

Now that he is free from cancer, Brown knows he will not only be back on the field next year, but will also be a massive asset as the Hawks chase yet more success.