Jarryd Roughead arrived at the MCG two hours before Hawthorn’s match against Sydney

UPDATE: JARRYD Roughead joined his Hawthorn teammates in the rooms, eager to keep his routine as normal as possible during his battle against cancer.

Hawk Jarryd Roughead arriving at the MCG. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

JARRYD Roughead joined his Hawthorn teammates in the rooms before the Hawks clash with Sydney, eager to keep his routine as normal as possible during his battle against cancer.

Roughead, 29, was one of the first in the MCG rooms, arriving almost two hours before the game, to wish his teammates well.

His appearance at the game, flagged earlier in the week by his coach Alastair Clarkson, comes just days after he announced to the playing group that his melanoma had returned and had spread into an internal organ.

He smiled for the cameras as he headed into the rooms, with captain Luke Hodge revealing he has been a constant presence around the club since informing the players of the recurrence on Tuesday.

Hawks and Swans fans showed their support for Roughead with a standing ovation at second minute mark of the second quarter — in reference to his No.2 jumper.

Sydney shows it support for Jarryd Roughead. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

Hodge said Roughead wanted to keep things as “normal as possible”.

Part of that saw him do an indoor training session Tuesday, as well as playing basketball with the players. And he went for a run with the fitness staff on Friday.

“(He’s) just the same old ‘Rough’,” Hodge said on SEN.

“But he’s obviously going to have a difficult three, six or 12 months.”

Roughead in the rooms pre-match. Picture: Channel 7

Hawthorn fans clap during the second minute of the second term as a tribute to Roughead. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

“I guess initially it is a shock (to hear the news). You see a bloke who has been flying (in his recovery from a knee injury) for the last few weeks, arguing with the physios about coming back and then all of a sudden you get this news.

Jarryd Roughead watches on from the coaches box. Picture: Getty

“You don’t know what to do or say. But to ‘Rough’’s credit, he came to speak to the guys.”

Hawthorn president Richard Garvey said the entire club was united behind “Roughy”.

“Our focus is firmly on wrapping our arms around him and his family,” Garvey told guests at the club’s official function.

“The AFL community is a community like no other and the love and support that has been shown to Jarryd this week has been overwhelming.

“We thank everyone for their well-wishes and I know that Jarryd certainly has felt the love this week.”

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