Jordan Roughead to wait and see on his Grand Final fate

JORDAN Roughead is confident of being ready for the Grand Final despite admitting there is a risk of aggravating a freak eye injury by attempting contact work at training.

JORDAN Roughead is confident of being ready for the Grand Final despite admitting there is a risk of aggravating a freak eye injury by attempting contact work at training.

Roughead suffered bleeding behind his right eye, and temporarily lost vision, after being struck in the face at close range by Giants Rory Lobb’s kick.

Roughead’s recovery is vitally important to the Bulldogs as speculation swirls around the selection claims of defenders Fletcher Roberts and Matthew Suckling.

Jordan Roughead suffered a loss of vision after being hit by the ball. Picture: Getty Images

If Roughead fails to convince medical staff of his fitness, Tom Campbell is likely to be promoted to share ruck duties with forward Tom Boyd. Will Minson is regarded as a long-shot alternative.

Roughead expects to play — even if he is restricted to walking laps at training today and being spared contact drills at the club’s final training run on Thursday.

“It’s looking pretty positive at this stage,” he said.

“I’ve seen the specialist twice. I went in yesterday to get a first opinion and back in this morning just to see how things are progressing.

“At this point we’re pretty positive. It seems to be healing pretty well.

“At the moment I’m on doctors’ orders just sitting at home. I’ll just take it easy over the next few days, hopefully get out there and do a little bit tomorrow and then train on Thursday.”

Roberts has played in 17 of the Bulldogs’ 25 matches this season and is widely expected to get the job on Sydney champion ‘Buddy’ Franklin, declaring “I would look forward to the challenge if was given to me.”

Roughead in pain after copping a ball to the eye. Picture: Getty Images

But he concedes nothing is certain as Suckling and midfielder Lin Jong mount cases for recalls.

“We’ll have to wait and see throughout the week,” Roberts said.

“The main thing for me is to recover and then to train well over the next three or four days and really put my hand up again for selection.

“You never know with AFL footy. You just have to train and do your best.”

Roberts returned to the Bulldogs outfit for the famous win over GWS after Suckling, who has played in the past two premierships with Hawthorn, succumbed to achilles soreness.