JARRYD Roughead’s versatility has seen him play in almost every position on the ground this year – except full back.
The star Hawk led the way against the Bombers on the weekend, collecting 29 disposals, eight marks, seven clearances and a goal while playing up forward and through the midfield in the club’s 38-point win.
Roughead also laid a game-high seven tackles, highlighting his defensive impact for a player who at 193 centimetres, is among the tallest players on the ground.
Hawthorn’s leading goalkicker for the past two years has played a different role this year, spending more time up the ground.
Roughead is still averaging two goals per game – he’s kicked 24 in 12 matches – and spending more time through the middle allowed the likes of Paul Puopolo (four goals) and Jack Gunston (three goals) to have an impact near goal in Round 13.
Playing up the ground isn’t a foreign feeling for the 28-year-old, who says it’s giving the Hawks greater unpredictability and possibly an edge against their opponents.
“It was good to get a bit of the ball,” Roughead said.
“To get a bit of the ball and play well through the middle I suppose it’s a good thing, and it just shows how flexible we are as a side.
“(Cale) Hooker goes to Puopolo all day and Gunners gets (Michael) Hibberd, so it just shows that at any time these guys can play tall or small which is want you want in a dangerous forward line.”
Teammate Brian Lake said Roughead’s flexibility – and that of a number of Hawks players – had been important to the club’s string of four consecutive wins.
“That’s his asset, how flexible he is,” Lake said.
“He’s able to go into the midfield and get clearances, he goes up forward, stoppages – you saw that goal late in the game that he kicked from a stoppage.
“He’s an exciting player – he’s first to admit he’s not like an Isaac Smith or a Billy Hartung that can run all day – but he just knows where the ball’s going to go, and (with) football smarts he’s one of the best around.”
Roughead is averaging almost 19 disposals per match this season and is ranked fourth at Hawthorn for goal assists, with 11, but Lake said he was hoping to see the star Hawk more down his end of the ground.
“I wouldn’t mind seeing him at full back every now and then, I don’t know how he’d go with the pace,” he joked.
