Jarryd Roughead, Jaeger O’Meara standouts in Hawthorn’s first intra-club match

THE AFL comebacks of Jaeger O’Meara and Jarryd Roughead are on track after both shone in Hawthorn’s first full intra-club match on Wednesday.

Jaeger O'Meara at Hawthorn training. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

THE AFL comebacks of Jaeger O’Meara and Jarryd Roughead are on track after both shone in Hawthorn’s first full intra-club match on Wednesday.

O’Meara hasn’t played at AFL level for two years because of serious patella tendon injuries, but was in the thick of the action in hot conditions at the Ricoh Centre.

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Playing off a wing, the former Sun kicked goals and impacted the game in bursts.

The Hawks were conservative with O’Meara’s training program pre-Christmas and, well aware of his delicate injury history, aren’t rushing him a week out from their JLT Community Series opener against Geelong.

Hawthorn has been cautious with new recruit Jaeger O'Meara. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

The club has said the former Suns onballer, who had his right knee strapped, doesn’t have to play in the pre-season competition to be in contention for a Round 1 berth.

New captain Roughead was also a presence after a PCL injury and the return of skin cancer kept him on the sidelines last year.

The versatile forward, who played with a hat on, spent the majority of his playing time in the forward line as new recruit Tyrone Vickery shared ruck duties with Ben McEvoy.

Roughead is expected to feature at some stage over the next month as be builds back up to full fitness.

Kieran Lovell impressed through the midfield and James Sicily also caught the eye.

After facing the Cats in Launceston, Hawthorn plays North Melbourne (Arden Street) and Port Adelaide (Hickinbotham Oval) before opening its home-and-away campaign against Essendon on March 24.