JARRYD Roughead has more than two years remaining on his playing contract with Hawthorn – and he’s not going anywhere.
The star Hawk quashed any rumours of retirement today, as he prepares for his next challenge in life.
Roughead will undergo immunotherapy treatment for melanoma over the next 12 months, with the treatment set to start next week.
"When the news hit two weeks ago, it was shock and I didn't really believe it," Roughead said.
"Obviously we were a bit emotional about it all, but now as we've had the biopsy and I've seen the doctors and understand what needs to happen. It's just like righto, let’s get going because the sooner 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, bum-up really.
"I heard rumours that I was going to retire today, but I’m 29 and I've still got two-and-a-half years on a deal… 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.”
It’s been an intense couple of weeks for the 29-year-old – who was on track to potentially return from a knee injury this weekend – but he is optimistic ahead of the start of his immunotherapy treatment next week.
"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."
Roughead and Hawks general manager of football operations Chris Fagan thanked the football community for its support since the reoccurrence of his melanoma was announced.
"It's been amazing since the news broke. Not only for me, but for my wife and family and everyone," Roughead said.
"I've had other teams, teammates, other opposition players, club's fans, just the general public have been unreal.
"It's not like the weekend where you have to choose one side or the other. You know everyone's in your corner for this one.
"When you've got 100 per cent backing it means a fair bit."
Both Roughead and Fagan said they were hoping to keep things as normal as possible over the next couple of months.
“Unfortunately I’m not playing and you guys were looking forward to me coming back – so was I,” Roughead said.
“At the end of the day, for everyone to just treat me normal is what you want.
“I don’t want to be going down the street and having all eyes just look at you, I don’t need that when we go to games, and the boys don’t need that either.”
Roughead had some advice for fans wondering how to act towards him over the next 12 months.
"Just seeing everyone smile towards me is more than enough," Roughead said.
"There's no point feeling down for me because that's not going to make me feel better, it's not going to make you feel better, it's not going to make anyone feel better.
"So the sooner we're all positive towards this, the better."
