Jarryd Roughead Biography

As part of a long-standing promise for winning the 2014 flag, Alastair Clarkson owes the five-man Hawthorn leadership group a trip to the Super Bowl.

Originally locked in for the following year, the trip was denied over what would've been perceived as a breach of the salary cap with the four-time premiership coach "gifting" his players.

And with each year that passes without the commitment being fulfilled, the reminders from captain Luke Hodge, Sam Mitchell, Jordan Lewis, Josh Gibson and Jarryd Roughead get more intense.

"Every year in the lead-up to the Super Bowl I'm getting text messages from these five or six lads saying, 'Notice you haven't got an airline ticket booked for me this year'," Clarkson said.

"While it seems like a gesture that's a little bit over the top, it's quite sincere from my family's point of the view, as well as our club, just what contribution they made to the success of our footy club through that period of time."

James Frawley said he was convinced to renew his career with St Kilda after meeting up with his former Hawks teammate Jarryd Roughead in Noosa.

"I planned to play at a VAFA (amateur level) side and start trying to work out what I wanted to do after footy; the next 20-25 years of my life," Frawley said.

"Then I had a few beers with 'Roughy' up in Noosa and just got chatting and he said St Kilda might be keen - that was the first I heard of it and I was a bit surprised.

"A bit weird coming to a third club but really excited to get out here and try to help this group strive to get better and hopefully to the ultimate success of a premiership."

Jarryd Roughead joins St Kilda's football department.

He will work in list management, the club's leadership and mentoring program, and will perform a match-day role, as well as helping develop some of St Kilda's young key-position players.

"I'm looking forward to working across the football program and with a really talented young group of players, and contributing where I can to their development," Roughead said.

"St Kilda presented an appealing role and have a very clear direction in where they want to take the club over the next few years.

"I'm looking forward to getting started and thank them for the opportunity."

Jarryd Roughead officially ends his career having played his last game with a six-goal performance against Gold Coast.

Roughead confirmed that he would not be part of his side's final regular season game this week against West Coast in Perth.

"You honestly could not have written a better script than the way things panned out on Sunday," Roughead said.

"That being the case, I've made the call to officially hang them up. I'd like to thank everyone for making Sunday so special. The atmosphere in the stadium was incredible and I'll cherish the memories forever."

Jarryd Roughead kicks six goals in Hawthorn's 70-point drubbing of Gold Coast.

While the match was meant to be Roughead's final AFL game, his strong performance, in front of an adoring crowd, may result in him being selected again for the Hawks' final 2019 regular season game in Perth against the Eagles.

"Rough's made it a little bit more difficult. There's a part of me that says 'Jeez, that would be a nice way to finish your career'. Six goals in a big win in front of your home fans is a pretty special way to finish up but we'll have a discussion about that during the week," Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson said after the game.

Jarryd Roughead says he will retire with no regrets after 15 seasons with the Hawks.

"I've probably known (retirement) was coming for 12 months or so, but I guess I'm happy, because I've been able to be here for 15 years," Roughead said.

"I've had a great time here, and I've been able to do what not many people can do. To say I've been at one club is something pretty special."

Roughead will play in a farewell match this week but says it was never a priority for him.

"I guess I wasn't worried either way, really, because I understood where the club was going in terms of blooding youth and getting games into some kids," he said.

"It's worked out – it's very nice that I can be able to play this Sunday – but it wasn't like, 'You've got to play me otherwise I'll crack the sads' … I'm not bigger than the club. The club's perfect."

Jarryd Roughead has officially called time on his decorated career and will play in a farewell match this weekend against the Suns at the Marvel Stadium.

"I’ve had an amazing 15-year journey with the Hawthorn Football Club. I am content with everything I have achieved in my career to date and I know it’s the right time for myself, my family and the club," he said.

"To play this great game for such a long time and to have experienced success like we have is something I’ll never take for granted.

"I want to thank everyone at the Hawthorn Football Club for supporting me through all the highs and lows. The bonds and friendships I’ve made will last a lifetime."

Alastair Clarkson has given the strongest indication yet that Jarryd Roughead is unlikely to receive a farewell game.

"He knows we are on to the next generation of players at our club and he is prepared to do whatever is required for our club to move forward," Clarkson said.

"He knows he has had his time in the sun and it is time for the next generation of players to come through.

"He has had an unbelievably decorated career for our football club and we can send him out in different ways other than having a farewell game."

Jarryd Roughead tours St Kilda's Moorabbin facilities this week as he ponders his next step for life after football in 2020.

Roughead is weighing up several options as clubs push to secure his services for off-field roles including leadership, development and list management.

After having missed five consecutive weeks, Jarryd Roughead is set to make his return to the senior side this week when the Hawks take on the Swans at the SCG.

"It's exciting for him and exciting for us. It was never our intention to write his career off four or five weeks ago when he went out of the side," Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson said.

"But he knew he needed to do some things in his game to give him the best chance of being able to contribute at senior level."

Gold Coast coach Stuart Dew admits the Suns explored recruiting Jarryd Roughead at the end of 2018.

"I made a few phone calls. Just to enquire about what his plans were. He was clear on what this year looked like for him, but I think he was keen to stay the course and be part of that immediate handover," Dew said.

"He was really keen to stay on at that footy club and it'll work out fine for him. I mean, look at his career. He's unbelievable. Not only just his footy career, but his life journey. I'm biased, but I'm not alone in those thoughts."

Jarryd Roughead is dropped to the VFL for the first time in more than seven years with Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson even intimating that the key forward may have played his last game at AFL level.

"He's in the backend of his career and last week could have been his last game for the footy club, but I'd hope that's not the case, because he's still got 15 games to go," Clarkson said.

"But whatever happens in the next 15 games, he's got a significant contribution to make to our footy club – no matter whether he plays seniors or at Box Hill."

Jarryd Roughead becomes the target of a distasteful social media post on Facebook making light of his battle with cancer.

The post, which was widely condemned on social media, came during the Hawks' come-from-behind, five-point victory over Carlton.

"This sort of behaviour is completely unacceptable and will never be tolerated by the Hawthorn Football Club," Hawthorn chief executive Justin Reeves said.

"No person should ever be subjected to taunts, especially about issues as personal as this."

Meanwhile, the Facebook user whose profile the post appeared on has denied writing the post.

"Apparently someone has used my name or photoshopped my profile onto a post about Jarryd Roughead," the user wrote on social media.

"I have no idea what's going on or what's actually happened, but I can categorically say, I did not write that post."

Jarryd Roughead steps down as Hawthorn captain after two years in the role.

"It's been an honour and privilege to captain the club for the past two years, but I feel it's in the best interests of myself and the club to hand over the reins," Roughead said.

"Being captain is a big responsibility and I think the best thing for the team right now is that I focus on my own game and getting the best out of myself on the field."

Jarryd Roughead responds to speculation about his playing future – insisting he will play on in 2019 – but is open to relinquishing the captaincy at Hawthorn.

"I'm a realist, too, and I understand when you get to 30, 31, these questions are going to come – no matter who you are," Roughead said.

"I still feel like I've got value amongst this group and I wouldn't want to give that up, because I keep having fun with these kids and keep having fun every day I get here."

Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson says Jarryd Roughead's future beyond 2018 is unclear as he struggles to recapture his best form.

"He's still contracted and we're really keen to see out contracts where we possibly can, but his form wouldn't have been to the standard he would have liked throughout the course of this year," Clarkson said.

Jarryd Roughead will remain captain of Hawthorn in 2018.

Roughead will again be supported by dual vice-captains Isaac Smith and Liam Shiels, while Jack Gunston and Ben Stratton have also been retained in the leadership group after a player vote.

"2017 provided some really good learnings for me and I feel like I’ve continued to develop and grow into the role," Roughead said.

"Captaining the Hawks is a real honour and to be backed in by your teammates for another year is extra special."

Luke Hodge says his friendship with Jarryd Roughead led to him choosing the No.2 jumper at the Brisbane Lions.

"I've done a fair bit of work with 'Rough' over the last few years with his captaincy and got quite close with him, so I thought it was a pretty clear decision what I wanted," Hodge said.

"I gave him the heads up that we're both wearing No.2.

"He's keen for a jumper swap at some stage throughout the season when we play one against each other, so that should be good."

Jarryd Roughead will miss the club's training camp in New Zealand and the next few weeks of pre-season training after undergoing knee surgery.

"We found out that Jarryd requires a minor clean-up procedure which means that he's is likely to be out for the next two to three weeks," Hawks general manager of football Jason Burt said.

"This is only a minor setback and we expect Jarryd to be fresh and ready for the start of the season."

As Jarryd Roughead prepares for his 250th game, the Hawthorn skipper says he has had to "learn on the fly" in his first season as leader.

"I haven't really thought about it (250 matches) too much. At the start of the year when I was coming back, I didn't really think about this. It was all about trying to play footy again," he said.

"Now that we're here, it'll be good to look back on and say, 'That was a good milestone', but really, you don't look back on it too much while you're playing."

If there's nothing in the water in Leongatha, then there's definitely something in the milk.

The small dairy town, 135 kilometres south-east of Melbourne, has the honour of producing both captains in the Essendon-Hawthorn opening-round showdown at the MCG in Dyson Heppell and Jarryd Roughead.

"If you think about it, it's a small country town of about 6000 people and the two of us being captains of quite substantial AFL clubs is very unique," Heppell said.

Jarryd Roughead makes his anticipated return to football with 14 touches, a mark and a goal in Hawthorn's JLT Series win over Geelong.

"I suppose it's good, but I haven't put this one as the focus. It's still a bit of a building block," Roughead said.

"Round one's obviously what I'm building towards, and the more games I can play, it's just going to be better for me, and better for the team as well.

"Towards the end I was cooked, but I guess you're going to get that when you've had a bit of time off.

Jarryd Roughead is appointed captain of Hawthorn in 2017, taking over from three-time premiership skipper Luke Hodge.

"I'm honoured to be captaining the Hawks this year," Roughead said.

"It's an enormous responsibility but I'm ready for the challenge and can't wait to lead this group of players.

"What you see is what you get with me. I think I'm liked and respected by the playing group and that's a good thing to start off with. To be backed by the players and the club, it's a really special feeling."

Roughead has been back in full training since receiving the medical all-clear last month from his battle with cancer.

"I thought footy was everything until what happened. But now that I've gone through what I have, I know that footy is only going to be 15 or 16 years of my life in terms of playing. I want to live to potentially be a dad or a granddad and one of the things the doctor said when he cleared me was that he wanted me to become a granddad. That means more than 15 years of footy," he said.

"Because we live in Melbourne in the fishbowl of footy, we get caught up in that so much rather then everyday life and what it feels like to be alive."

Jarryd Roughead has set his sights on playing in the upcoming pre-season series.

"I missed all of last year and have been lucky enough that we're all good to go this year, so hopefully in the coming weeks we can maybe suit up for the (JLT Community Series) and then wait and see for the footy season," he said.

"But obviously to get back and playing amongst the boys is what you want to do and what we're here for.

"So if I can do that I will be very happy and I reckon everyone else will be too."

Cancer survivor Adam Ramanauskas has urged Hawthorn fans to temper their expectations of an early-season return for Jarryd Roughead.

"What can happen, if he pushes it too hard, too early, that can be a major setback for weeks at a time, not just a day or two," Ramanauskas told RSN radio.

"I think he's out there, he's enjoying training and he's seeing how it goes.

"There's a lot of issues around getting your heart-rate too elevated in the early stages of his recovery. He'll need to be very, very mindful of that."

Jarryd Roughead has been given the all-clear to resume full training just seven months after being sidelined with a reoccurrence of his melanoma.

"The drugs that I had have worked and killed off everything. That's what we wanted from the start. I'm cancer free and that's what you want to hear," Roughead said.

"I've had a complete response from the (immunology) treatment so far and he's (Grant McArthur, the specialist) given me the all-clear to get back living a normal life, do the things I want, which is playing footy

"It reassures me that things are all good and I can get back to living a normal life."

Jarryd Roughead has received "some positive news" in his fight against melanoma, but says it's too early to tell when he might return to football.

"I'm good at the moment. I obviously had a bit of a rough period there probably two months ago, I dropped a bit of weight getting used to the treatment," Roughead told 3AW.

"But I've been good the past month or so and been able to be around the boys and have a bit of fun, which is what you want.

"That place is like a second home to me so being able to hang around the boys this time of year is obviously a good time of year."

Speaking on Triple M radio, Jarryd Roughead says he is eight weeks through the planned 12-month course of immunotherapy treatment he is undertaking.

"The first 12 weeks, a couple of drugs go in, then after that there's one for the next nine months. At the moment it's every three weeks, and then I think it goes to every two weeks," he said.

"We'll have another scan at the 12-week mark and see where it's all that, and hopefully we'll make some decisions after that.

"It is the immune-based (drug), so it can get you in different ways. There are little side-effects here and there, but you deal with them and it's not affecting me too much."

James Sicily says Hawks teammate Jarryd Roughead has been a great mentor to him as a young forward.

"He's someone I lean on for advice and I try to pick his brain with tips and tricks," Sicily said.

"He's given me some advice on leading patterns and little things you can do to create separation as a forward. As well as some mindset things when things aren't going your way."

Jarryd Roughead will undergo immunotherapy treatment over the next 12 months to treat his cancer, with the Hawthorn star vowing to beat the illness and return to football.

"When the news hit two weeks ago it was [a] shock and I didn't really believe it," Roughead told a packed media conference.

"Obviously we were a bit emotional about it all.

"But now as we've had the biopsy and seen the doctors and understand what needs to happen it's just like, 'Righto, let's get going' because the sooner that we start the sooner it's beaten and it's all over.

"We know that next week is when we start, and from then on it's just head down and bum up, really."

Roughead has met with world-leading specialists at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and is confident of making a full recovery given the recent advances in treatment.

"I understand the drugs that we need to use are very, very good and the percentages are very good," Roughead said.

"I'm still going to be out here (at the club), I'm still going to be going on trips … so it's not as if I have to go away, I don't lose my hair.

"Nothing like that happens. I'm still just going to be the same old me, but unfortunately I just can't play."

Roughead insisted he hadn't given away his football career.

"I'm 29 and I've still got two-and-a-half years on my deal," he said.

"So if I'm going to give that up, I'm not going to come back to another team. I'm still going to be here for two-and-a-half years and hopefully longer – that's the plan.

"I'm not feeling down at the moment, because I know what I have to do and I know it's going to be a bit of a battle for the next 12 months.

"But at the end of the day, I'm still here, I'm still fine, it's not like I'm going anywhere."

Jarryd Roughead will fly with the team to Brisbane to celebrate Lewis' 250th game against the Lions at the Gabba.

"It's good for him to be around," Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson said.

"He's stable and healthy enough to be able to fly ... all he wants to do is be around his mates and hopefully watch us have a win on Saturday night."

Hawthorn has respectfully turned down ideas from fans to show support for Jarryd Roughead, insisting the star forward wants things to keep things 'business as usual' for his teammates.

The club says it'd prefer fans to simply send messages of support through its website.

“Jarryd is a man of little fuss and is incredibly humbled by the many suggestions that have been flowing in with regards to ways for fans to show support at this time," Hawthorn football operations manager Chris Fagan said.

“We feel this is the perfect way to gather the many well wishes flowing in for Jarryd.

“It’s a great opportunity for everyone in the footy world to get around 'Roughy' and look after him and his family.”

Jarryd Roughead has suffered a reoccurrence of the melanoma first detected in mid-2015 and will be unavailable for the Hawks indefinitely.

Roughead will undergo a biopsy to determine the best form of treatment.

"If that's confirmed, then he has to go through a series of treatments that will probably go over the course of the next three to four months," Hawthorn football manager Chris Fagan said.

"On a regular basis, he has to go and have a full body scan. He's had one previous and everything was all clear.

"This time around, there are a few spots of cancer."

Roughead came into the club to make his teammates aware of the news.

"He bravely came in today. He was fairly determined to talk to them," Fagan said.

"It was quite an emotional time for 'Rough' and for the boys.

Fagan said Roughead would continue to be spend time at the club while he battles the illness.

"I think that's really important for him, that he does get back here and get involved with the boys. He'll be able to do a bit of light training."

Jordan Lewis tells of the shock and emotion after hearing of Jarryd Roughead's reoccurrence of melanoma.

Roughead underwent a routine scan on Monday afternoon, which revealed the cancer, and Lewis was one of the first people he called.

Lewis said he was driving home from the club at about 4.30pm when Roughead asked him if he could return.

"Usually when someone asks you that, 'Clarko' has thought of a meeting," Lewis said.

"He just broke down and asked for me to come back.

"When we were both at the club, we just sat in our player development manager's office and we both just sort of had a bit of a cry.

"No words were needed, but the seriousness of it would break anyone down, no matter how strong or fit you are."

Jarryd Roughead says he is still unsure about what forced him to require a PCL reconstruction.

"I hurt it last year in a game against Carlton (in round 17)," Roughead said.

"I had the scan at the end of the year to see if I could still go on the International Rules trip, which came up fine.

"I did all the training over Christmas, then came back, and for some reason, I don't know what, the knee started to flare up."

Roughead says there was the option of a clean up with a quicker recovery time, but that could have resulted in reinjuring his knee.

"It's a 16 to 20-week injury, (but a reconstruction) could prolong your career," he said.

Jarryd Roughead will miss the first half of the 2016 season to undergo a PCL reconstruction.

"He's actually had a PCL injury for a long time, but in the past if it's got a little bit sore he just has a day off and it clears up and he continues to train and play," Hawthorn football manager Chris Fagan said.

"He didn't miss any games with it last year, he had a perfect pre-season up until Christmas time, and for some unknown reason the knee's got sore just lately, and not recovering when we've given him a rest."

Alastair Clarkson expects star Hawk Jarryd Roughead to play with no restrictions on Saturday night in his first game back after a skin cancer scare.

"It was pretty much out of our hands from a footy point of view, in a sense, it was just about letting the specialist make determinations on when he was OK to return," Clarkson said.

"We're delighted [he's back] but more particularly with the fact he's got a tick in regards to his health and what that means for him in many years to come."

Hawthorn names Jarryd Roughead to face the Sydney Swans on Saturday night at ANZ Stadium, two weeks after the forward had surgery to remove a melanoma from his lip.

Lance Franklin says he's been in constant contact with former teammate Jarryd Roughead since the Hawthorn forward's skin cancer scare.

The pair played in two premierships together for the Hawks in 2008 and 2013, and it's clear the two forwards share a special bond.

Roughead will be missing when the Swans and the Hawks meet on Saturday night at ANZ Stadium while he recovers from surgery, but Franklin says his mate has never strayed far from his thoughts.

"The period Roughead is going through at the moment … I've been on the phone to him constantly to see how he is and see how he's tracking; he's been quite incredible really," Franklin said.

"He's getting some really good support around him to help him through this tough period.

"Obviously Roughy and Jordan Lewis, and Josh Gibson and all the senior guys at that football club have been a big part of my life for a long period of time."

After having a melanoma removed from his bottom lip. Jarryd Roughead has received positive results from follow-up tests this week, with only one more test to complete before he gets the all clear.

"The last week's been a little bit full-on, but I've got some good results and some good news. That's the best news we could ask for and now it's just about healing and getting back out there," Roughead said.

"(Surgery) went well and it's healing, but eating isn't going so well so far. It's just soups and liquid at the moment, soft foods, so there's no steaks or big chicken meals or anything like that at the moment.

"I had some further tests just to make sure that everything's clear and I'm just doing everything right.

"It puts everything into perspective when something like this happens, so obviously the club and myself just wanted to make sure that everything was going right and the tests needed to be done.

"I've still got one more, but everything's been good so far."

Jarryd Roughead has a melanoma removed from his lip.

"As I understand it, Jarryd has been getting regular check-ups, which would suggest this melanoma has been detected relatively early so that's a positive thing," leading sports medico Dr Peter Larkins said.

"Even in this best-case scenario, Jarryd will need regular check-ups. Once you've had melanoma, you've got melanoma therapy and check-ups for life.

It's quite common though for melanoma patients to require radiotherapy after the melanoma has been removed."

Jarryd Roughead is ranked by his fellow players as the sixth best in the AFL.

Jarryd Roughead signs a two-year contract extension with Hawthorn that will keep him at the club until the end of 2018.

"It's safe to say that at 31, when this deal does expire, it might be hard for free agency," Roughead said.

"To be able to lock it away now and say that I'm here until the end of 2018 when I'm 31 is a very good thing for myself and hopefully for the footy club as well."

Coleman Medal leader Jarryd Roughead accepts a one-match suspension from the Match Review Panel for tripping Melbourne's Dom Tyson.

Jarryd Roughead plays in his 200th game against the Swans.

Hawthorn captain Luke Hodge has endorsed young midfielder Liam Shiels as a candidate to succeed him as skipper if he continues to lead the Hawks until his playing days are finished.

"[If we made a change] at this stage, we'd probably look at Jordan Lewis or Jarryd Roughead," Hodge told Talking Footy.

"But if I'm going to go a couple more years, depending what way the club wants to go, then Liam Shiels is another one who stands out."

Jarryd Roughead returns to training ahead of schedule, joining the Hawks' first to fourth-year players by hitting the track early.

Josh Gibson wins the Peter Crimmins Medal after being names Hawthorn's best and fairest for 2013.

Gibson polled 178 votes to finish 11 clear of Coleman medallist Jarryd Roughead while midfielder Sam Mitchell finished 10 votes further back in third and backman Ben Stratton was fourth.

"I'm very surprised but very humbled at the same time. There's been some fantastic winners and we've had some fantastic performances this year," Gibson said.

"So I'm honoured that the coaches thought I played that well this year, and I'm very proud to be the holder of the Peter Crimmins Medal."

Jarryd Roughead officially accepts a reprimand for rough conduct, freeing him up to play in Saturday's Grand Final against Fremantle.

The Match Review Panel offers Jarryd Roughead a reprimand for his bump on Geelong's Cameron Guthrie, allowing him to play in this week's Grand Final.

Max Bailey's manager Shane Casley says his client has no intention of leaving Hawthorn and will not be testing the free agent market.

Bailey's ability to shoulder most of the Hawks' ruck load this year has released Jarryd Roughead and David Hale to spend more time in attack, with Roughead taking his game to another level on his way to the Coleman Medal.

"Max is not going anywhere, he's Hawthorn through and through," Casley said.

"When Max has been fit and up and running this year he's been the Hawks' No. 1 ruckman.

"He obviously hasn't been able to play every game this year and clubs need to make sure they have some back-up."

Jarryd Roughead says he will still love Lance Franklin if he leaves Hawthorn.

"I think he understands that we're going to love him no matter what," Roughead said.

"If he was to go, he's given nine years and kicked nearly 600 goals. I think most teams would be happy if their number five draft pick came in and did that."

Jarryd Roughead says being freed of ruck duties this season has allowed him to better recover physically after matches.

"I'm definitely recovering a lot better this year from games," Roughead said.

"Last year, I was playing in the ruck for a fair bit of each game, and that is taxing. You're bumping bodies with blokes that are 10kg heavier, and trying to run all over the ground.

"I'm feeling a lot better now than I was last year, it's fair to say."

Cousins Jarryd and Jordan Roughead will go head to head when the Hawks take on the Bulldogs at Aurora Stadium.

"He's a fantastic player, the Hawthorn version. Our young boy is 22, and he's going to be a really good player too," Bulldogs coach Brendan McCartney said about Jordan.

"He's filled in really well for us this year. Whether he becomes a ten-year full-back or a ten-year ruckman/centre half-forward we'll still find out, but we've got a good young player there."

Key position player Jarryd Roughead has become another option for Hawthorn's potent midfield.

"To have a person who is six-foot-four, with the agility of 'Roughy', going in there, it creates a little bit of a difference, because there's not too many midfielders like that," Hawks skipper Luke Hodge said.

"If someone is having a quiet game, you can throw them into the middle and have confidence that they can have an impact in there."

Jarryd Roughead signs a contract extension with Hawthorn that will keep him at the club until the end of 2016.

"Hawthorn has been very good to me. I came here when I was a 17-year-old and when this deal is up I'll be 29. 12 or 13 years goes pretty quickly," Roughead said.

"For them to show faith in me, it was pretty much a no-brainer [to re-sign]. When I'm 29 turning 30, I don't think I'll be going anywhere else."

Jarryd Roughead says some at his club doubted he could handle a ruckman's workload this season, but not him.

"I don't think everyone was real keen on me doing it, just because of the workload and what happened last year," Roughead said.

"I went to them and said, 'I don't know why we're putting a blanket over things, I reckon I can do it'. I suppose knowing I had that confidence gave them the confidence."

Fresh from playing his first game of the year, Hawthorn big man Jarryd Roughead says he has full confidence in his body despite his long injury lay-off.

"I was ready to go for weeks, so it's not like I was needing to get nurtured through," Roughead said.

"They weren't going to play me if that was the case. I'd done the work, and had nine months off, so it wasn't as if I was too worried about it (the Achilles).

"I was doing all right halfway through last year [in the ruck], so going straight back in didn't worry me."

Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson expects Jarryd Roughead to make an immediate impact on his AFL return in Round 2 against the Cats.

"We've played him at Box Hill (Hawthorn's reserves) over the last couple of games to get that competitive nature into his game and to withstand the rigours of the game," Clarkson said.

"We've been pretty cautious and conservative with his re-entry to playing competitive footy, but he's raring to go now. He's been raring to go for about six weeks. We couldn't keep him out any longer."

Hawk Jarryd Roughead cops a knock in the VFL, leaving him with a corked thigh and unlikely to face the Pies in the Hawks' season opener for 2012.

Hawthorn says they will not risk playing Jarryd Roughead, who is returning from injury, in the ruck unnecessarily this season despite a wrist injury to Max Bailey.

"'Roughy' is certainly not ready for those type of responsibilities yet," Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson said.

"We're very, very mindful of his re-issue back into league footy being in a position that he's comfortable in, not in the demands of the ruck, which is probably the most demanding position in the game at the present time.

"We might not play him in the ruck at all this year, we'll just wait and see."

Jarryd Roughead could play in the final round of the NAB Cup and is some chance of playing in the Hawks' season opener.

"'Roughy' has had a really good training block, and we'd be hopeful that he'll play some footy next week," Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson said.

"Where that will be…we need to determine what our NAB Cup schedule is for next week.

"We'd give some consideration to playing him in that if it was suitable and he can have a good training week. But he's progressing really well."

Jarryd Roughead is on the road to recovery after snapping an achilles tendon and the club says they will not rush him.

"After the initial operation he looked like he came out well, and then he got the infection that had to be cleaned out and that set him back a month or so. But since he got over that he has had a really solid level of progress," Hawthorn football manager Mark Evans said.

"He is into skills training but he still has a long way to go and a lot of steps he needs to go through. We have the long-term in mind, rather than trying to rush him."

Hawthorn says forward Jarryd Roughead won't be rushed in his return from a ruptured Achilles tendon.

"He's probably doing about 90 per cent of our program at the moment," assistant coach Leon Cameron said.

"He's worked his absolute butt off in his rehab, in his gym work, in his strength and his running, and it's a credit to him. It's great to see him out there, bit by bit doing more."

Jarryd Roughead has started running in his recovery from a ruptured Achilles tendon.

"He has been doing some de-load running and that has been going pretty well for him. He is pulling up OK out of it so far, so that is a good start to the running phase," Hawthorn football manager Mark Evans said.

"On one of the treadmills that we have got you can adjust how much weight the player runs at. There is plenty of steps along the way, but the steps so far have been going OK."

Jarryd Roughead is expected to recover well from his long-term Achilles injury and play a significant part in the Hawks' 2012 campaign.

"He had a little bit of a hiccup early, he had an infection and needed to go back and get that washed out, so that set him back four to six weeks," Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson said.

"Outside of that, the way he's responded has been in line with all other Achilles injuries we know of. He's been such a big resilient fella for us, I'd expect he'll recover pretty well from it."

Injured forward Jarryd Roughead says he is aiming to play in Hawthorn's opening game of 2012.

"I walk with a fair limp at the moment so it's a matter of strengthening up the calf a bit and getting the Achilles used to that load," he said.

"After a month I'd like to think I'd be walking full-on by then and hopefully run not long after that."

Jarryd Roughead says it is more important to make a full recovery from his ruptured Achilles than a quick one.

"I'm not going to rush it in any way," Roughead said.

"I want to get it right and have no problems with it again. So if that's six to nine to 12 months, then that's what it will take."

Jarryd Roughead's season is over after rupturing his Achilles in Hawthorn's clash with Geelong at the MCG.

"It's a disappointing injury for us because he has just been in such good form but we've just got to move on pretty quickly and find a replacement and just keep going," Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson said.

Hawthorn's Jarryd Roughead says he enjoyed his time in the ruck in the Hawks' 30-point win over St Kilda after teammate David Hale went down with a knee injury.

"I don't mind it. It's a chance for me to get up the ground and have a bit of a run around and not expect the ball just to come to me," Roughead said.

"I can get up and have a bit of a run around and enjoy it up in the midfield."

Hawthorn's Jarryd Roughead has no intention of heading into the backline in 2011 after work on his kicking action which was the source of criticism in 2010.

"I think I'll stay up forward. Obviously if we have injuries I might be required to go down back, but I've been training up forward all pre-season," Roughead said.

"We've had four months to work on new [kicking] techniques and we've simplified it and got it back to a more natural kicking [action]."

Jarryd Roughead may face his cousin Jordan Roughead in round 2 of the 2010 NAB Cup against the Bulldogs.

"I've never played against him in any sport, so it should be a bit of fun. And good for Dad and uncle as well," Jarryd said.

"He's a Ballarat boy. It's only NAB Cup (round) two, if it happens in Round 3 I might claim a bit of bragging rights."

Despite undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery just two weeks ago, Jarryd Roughead remains an outside chance to return to the Hawks lineup should his side qualify for the finals.

''Depending on how we went there would be some chance in the upcoming weeks,'' Hawthorn football operations manager Mark Evans said.

"We'll see how he progresses if we're still alive ... it depends how we go and how he goes.''

Key Hawthorn forward Jarryd Roughead will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his knee after suffering a lateral meniscus tear in Hawthorn's loss against St Kilda and will miss the rest of the season.

Jarryd Roughead may have had a lower profile than his forward line mate, Lance Franklin, but he has beaten him to the 100-game milestone.

"I suppose playing with him every week is the best job in the world. I've got the best seat in the house to watch a bloke like him," Roughead said of Franklin.

"It's not just him though, I've been lucky to come in with all the young boys we have. I'm probably best mates with Jordy Lewis and Buddy. It's good to get out there each week and play with your mates."

Hawk goalkicker Jarryd Roughead didn't mind his stint in the ruck against North Melbourne, but says his shins took a pounding.

The absence of Hawthorn's primary ruckmen due to injury left Hawk big man Brent Renouf to ruck virtually unaided all afternoon against the Kangaroos, until Roughead stepped up in the second half.

"I don't mind it. It's a little bit different and I might have to go out and buy a shin-guard but I don't think I will because I don't pull my socks up, so not to worry," Roughead said.

"It's a bit different. It makes it good when the circle is only small because I get a couple of steps and run and jump, so it's not too bad."

With injuries to their key ruckmen, Hawk forward Jarryd Roughead may be forced to serve as Hawthorn's backup ruckman.

Sydney Swans coach Paul Roos says Lance Franklin and Jarryd Roughead will be remembered as two of the all-time great forwards.

"Roughead and Franklin are still young, but I'd suggest at the end of their careers, you're going to be looking back on two pretty good forwards," Roos said.

"Dunstall and Brereton [and] Longmire and Carey were a good combination but I think Roughead and Franklin are going to stack up favourably once their careers are finished."

Hawthorn forward Jarryd Roughead says a full, injury-free pre-season is behind his flying start to the year.

"Last year I had a knee scrape in December or January and that probably put me back five or six weeks," Roughead said.

"To have an uninterrupted pre-season this year has been great, and I suppose it shows you can just go out there and have the confidence within yourself to do well."

Hawthorn stormed home on the back of a five-goal haul from Jarryd Roughead to beat Melbourne by three points in the NAB Cup.