With the 2014 season now complete, hawthornfc.com.au will review the season of those who played a senior game for the Hawks in 2014 with the help of GM - Football Operations Chris Fagan.
 

Season 2014 was another outstanding one for Jarryd Roughead, who is now easily one of the best forwards in the game.

Named All Australian for the second straight year, Roughead is much more to Hawthorn than a consistent key forward who kicks bags of goals week in, week out.

What makes Hawthorn’s number two so valuable is his versatility – it’s not every day a big, hulking key forward who’s 193cm and 100kg can also be switched into the midfield to play ruck rover.

But that’s what Roughead can do as Hawks fans and football commentators and followers marvel at every time he steps out onto the field.

For the second year running, the big Hawk topped Hawthorn’s goal kicking leader board, this time booting 75 goals (62 in the home-and-away rounds) to take his career tally to 441.

Roughead was held goalless in just two of his 23 matches this year and kicked multiple goals on 19 occasions.

His season is highlighted by an eight-goal haul against West Coast in Round 12, when he was best on ground for the Hawks in the victory at Aurora Stadium.

Most importantly, while he kicked a bag of six in Round 19 and twice booted five (Round 1 and 20), he produced his best form on the big stage in September.

Roughead saved two of his best performances for last, booting a combined 11 goals in the Preliminary and Grand Finals.

He was outstanding against the Power in the penultimate week, with 17 disposals and six goals, his biggest haul of the finals series and then backed that up with a breathtaking 13-disposal and five-goal performance against the Swans on Grand Final day.

The beauty of ‘Roughy’ is though, that while he kicks bags of goals he also does the team things – he chases, tackles and harasses opposition players as much as he can.

Aggressive and determined in his game play, the Hawks vice-captain set the tone on Grand Final day with a bone crunching tackle that left Swans star Dan Hannebery gasping for air and requiring medical attention.

The force of the hit could be felt around the ground and even through the bones of those watching on the broadcast.

While he averaged an impressive 3.1 goals per game throughout the home-and-away rounds, Roughead showed why he’s so valuable by also contributing at ground level by averaging 16.1 disposals and 3.0 tackles.

Like teammate Jack Gunston, Roughead 16.1 disposal average was well above the average of his opposition counterparts.

Swan Lance Franklin was the only other forward to average more disposals per game than Roughead from the top 10 goal kickers in the league (16.7 disposals average) and Saint Nick Riewoldt the only other from the top 15 (16.7 average).

Unbelievably, Roughead, like Gunston actually averaged just 0.1 disposals less than Port Adelaide ace Chad Wingard who is a quick half forward/midfield player.

Roughead also upped his goal average to 4.3 throughout the finals series, where he booted 13 in three games to be Hawthorn’s best forward in the three games.

He also averaged 14.6 disposals, 4.6 marks and 2.6 tackles in September.

Impressively, he was ranked first at the Club for contested marks (1.3 average) and in the top 10 for centre clearances and tackles.

He was ranked first for goals kicked and marks taken inside 50 and was recognised for his outstanding contribution this season with a third-place finish in the best and fairest. 

Roughead reached his 200^th career game in Round 18, much to the delight of Hawthorn fans who just love the ‘big Rough’.

What GM – Football Operations Chris Fagan said: “To be an All Australian two years straight is an outstanding achievement, it’s hard to do that. He’s been at a high level for a long time now and people view him as one of the most valuable players in the game because he can play in so many positions.

“As a football club we should recognise that fact we have a pretty special talent in Jarryd Roughead and I hope everyone appreciates how good he is.

“’Roughy’ had a great year, finishing third in the best and fairest.

“He’s such an unselfish forward because he creates so many opportunities and on top of that he kicked 75 goals himself.”
 

Jarryd Roughead in the news in 2014
- 200 a sideshow, Roughead eyes victory in crucial clash
- Photos: Roughy’s 200
- Hawk trio named All Australian

Videos featuring Jarryd Roughead in 2014
- It’s been an unreal ride for Roughead
- #everymoment: Roughead
- Roughead happy with third place in the PCM