Jarryd Roughead’s career is at the crossroads after being dropped to the VFL
Jarryd Roughead knew he was tempting fate playing out the last season of his contract, and after being dropped many are wondering if his playing days will end in the VFL, writes Jon Ralph.
Hawthorn
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The irony is impossible to escape — Jarryd Roughead has been dumped by Alastair Clarkson to make way for a kid named Mitchell Lewis who might one day spearhead the Hawthorn forward line.
Like the kid’s namesakes Jordan Lewis and Sam Mitchell, Roughead knew he was tempting fate by playing out the last season of his contract.
His issue was that unlike that decorated pair — and Luke Hodge — he felt he had only a single season in the tank.
Now after being dropped as part of Clarkson’s changing of the guard, the question being asked by club legends Jason Dunstall and Dermott Brereton is why the Hawks supercoach would hurry to bring him back from the VFL.
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Clarkson is not just any coach. Three weeks ago he played All-Australian forward Jack Gunston on Gary Ablett at half-back, so determined was he to give third-gamer Lewis a chance to command the football up forward.
Hawks fans can only hope Lewis, the 2016 No.76 draft pick, is the real deal.
Not the next Jay Neagle or Scott Gumbleton, who were given key roles ahead of Essendon club champion Matthew Lloyd.
Neither of that pair kicked on despite the heartburn it caused, and Lloyd walked away bitter over his end.
While Clarko tinkers, what is clear is that it is no shock to Roughead.
As far back as last July he told the Herald Sun of his determination to play on despite modest form, sparking weeks of controversy and honest discussions with Clarkson.
The four-time premiership coach said the club had “presented him with options so that we can talk transparently about all the different things”.
“After all those discussions his view is that he wants to continue to play at the Hawks next year and there’s no reason why we don’t want to continue to support that because he is contracted,” Clarkson said.
If Roughead hadn’t been contracted would Clarkson have pushed harder to nudge him into retirement?
At one stage Hawthorn believed it had secured Gold Coast star Tom Lynch, which might have made Roughead redundant. Regardless, the ex-skipper was forewarned.
His eight-possession performance against Melbourne last week was his lowest possession count since Round 10, 2012.
He is also amassing his fewest disposals since 2010, his fewest marks since 2007, his fewest marks inside-50 since 2011, his fewest goals since 2006 and fewest score involvements since 2009.
But only a month ago Roughead hauled in three contested marks in a two-goal performance against St Kilda, dancing around defenders and climbing high to mark above the pack.
If Clarkson is prepared to drop him off one really poor game, Hawthorn legend Brereton fears for his future.
“I don’t think Roughy’s knackered but I worry for him when he comes back — what position does he play?” Brereton told Fox Footy’s AFL 360.
“Because they’ve been using him as a second ruck as almost like — and I mean this with due respect — the cannon fodder position.
“McEvoy needs a break, throw somebody in there who can hold their own and get around the ground.”
Brereton wonders whether Roughead will want to finish the year in the VFL after such an esteemed career.
“Whether he wants to not damage the brand that is Jarryd Roughead that has taken 15 years to put together, just this awesome compilation (is the question),” he said.
Ex-Hawk Ben Dixon said Clarkson would be telling Roughead exactly what he needs to do to get back in.
“The communication would have been well and truly open. When you look at them talking to (Chad) Wingard on the weekend, that is reinforcement,” Dixon said.
“It is not the first time he would have heard it … with those conversations you know where you are.
“Clarko sees if you can fulfil the role to the best of your ability. And if you drop below that, it’s not like he will drop you straightaway. But there is always pressure for spots.
“You see guys exit the footy club but there is not an ambush about it. It is literally ‘this is where we are at, and if you want to pursue it, do it’.”
Club legend Jason Dunstall believes it is important for Roughead, currently on 281 games, to try to get to 300 club games.
“I’d love to see Roughy get to 300 but the question is whether he can discover some good form — not just average form — to prove he can go on.
“So you sit there and say ‘am I prepared to play a whole season in the reserves just waiting to be a bit player if I get an opportunity?’”
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