Despite producing one of the biggest bags of his career, Hawthorn favourite Jarryd Roughead is no certainty to play in the final round of the season against West Coast in Perth.
The 32-year-old forward kicked six goals in Hawthorn’s 70-point demolition of Gold Coast yesterday – his best return in more than four years – but with the Hawks still a chance to pinch eighth spot, coach Alastair Clarkson declined to commit to retaining him in the team for Saturday night’s match against the reigning premier in Perth.
Jarryd Roughead was a dominant force against the Suns.Credit: AAP
‘‘It would be like shooting Bambi if we don’t pick Rough next week,’’ Clarkson said.
‘‘But we’ll see how that all unfolds. Mitch Lewis has hurt his shoulder, we need to see how that comes up this week. He’s a big part of our future and we just need to make an assessment on what we do.
He’s kicked six goals in a big win in front of your home fans. That would be a pretty special way to finish up.
Alastair Clarkson on Jarryd Roughead
‘‘Rough’s made it a bit more difficult, but there’s a part of me that says, ‘gee that would be a nice way to finish your career’.
‘‘He’s kicked six goals in a big win in front of your home fans. That would be a pretty special way to finish up but we’ll have a discussion about it during the week.’’
Clarkson conceded that the fact Hawthorn expected a fast-paced encounter in Perth would make it challenging for the former skipper.
‘‘We’ll have a look at weather conditions and the balance of the side, the sort of side that West Coast is going to put out there, but in terms of form he didn’t do his chances any harm with the way that he played today,’’ Clarkson said. ‘‘It was a real fitting day for him.’’
The Hawthorn coach said he always felt ‘‘a tinge of sadness’’ about managing the exits of club greats such as Roughead, Luke Hodge and Jordan Lewis.
‘‘It’s tough, it’s like losing a body part. These guys have been such warriors for your footy club but it’s got to come to an end for all players.’’
He said Roughead played particularly well against the Suns but also recognised that there were several times where he was caught with the ball — notably when he was chased down by Lachie Weller running through the 50-metre arc in the third quarter — that suggested the game was catching up with the big man.
‘‘Three years ago, goal,’’ Clarkson said. ‘‘His body’s just failing him and it’s hard to watch that.’’
After a week celebrating an individual, Clarkson suggested the focus for his players going into the final round would be the excitement of challenging themselves against a quality team, rather than a chance to sneak into the finals.
‘‘A couple of [round 22] results went with us and a couple of results went against us unfortunately,’’ he said.
‘‘There’s still a slim chance of us getting there but it’s going to be a pretty big ask to beat West Coast on the rebound in Perth.
‘‘And the Crows have got to get up against the Doggies. So it’s a pretty slim chance I reckon.’’
Clarkson said the bigger picture for the club was ‘‘getting games into younger players ... and some of our older ones like Rough’’.
So the question remained whether this farewell against the Suns would be the last hurrah for his four-time premiership player.
‘‘If that happens to be his last game, what a way to go out,’’ Clarkson said.’’