A text message from cousin Jarryd helped Jordan Roughead settle his nerves ahead of first Grand Final

WESTERN Bulldogs ruckman Jordan Roughead has revealed how a text message from his cousin, Hawthorn star Jarryd, soothed his pre-Grand Final nerves.

WESTERN Bulldogs ruckman Jordan Roughead has revealed how a text message from his cousin, Jarryd, urging him to watch NBA championship-defining games by Michael Jordan and LeBron James helped soothe his pre-Grand Final nerves.

Speaking after Saturday’s 22-point premiership win over Sydney, Roughead said he didn’t want to pepper his four-time flag-winning cousin with questions before taking on his maiden AFL Grand Final.

But Jarryd’s simple words of advice not only provided Jordan with inspiration, but also played a part in keeping him occupied in the lead-up to Saturday’s game.

Jordan Roughead celebrates with Bob Murphy. Picture: Tim Carrafa

“We sent a few texts back and forward,” Jordan said of Jarryd, who played in the previous three flags with Hawthorn, as well as in 2008, but who missed this season due to his battle with melanoma.

“He has written his own footy story, and I want to try and go about it my own way.

“The one piece of advice he gave me when I was texting him on Thursday night was, he said ‘you have a long 36 hours ahead of you ... all you have to do is watch Michael Jordan’s Game Six against Utah in ‘97, I think, the sixth of the championships, or LeBron’s Games Five, Six and Seven in this year’s championships.

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“I watched both, it was a good way to kill a few hours.”

Roughead visited his eye specialist on the morning of the Grand Final to ensure there had been no more bleeding following his issues against Greater Western Sydney in last week’s preliminary final.

Vice-president Susan Alberti embraces Jordan Roughead on the ground after the win. Picture: Mark Stewart

“I popped in again just for a last-minute check-up, but he was happy enough for me to play regardless,” he said. “He just wanted to make sure there was no bleeding in the afternoon or overnight, and fortunately there wasn’t.

“The risk is always that rebleed, just when your heart-rate goes up. You don’t even have to get hit to rebleed.

“It was a pretty stressful week, but I would do it 100 times over if it means I could do that again.”