THE AFL’s Coleman Medal winner and Hawthorn star Jarryd Roughead says season 2013 has been his most consistent year.

It’s hard to believe given he kicked 75 goals in a premiership year in 2008, but he’s actually on track to better that record during this year’s finals.

Roughead booted 68 goals in 22 matches during the home and away rounds, finishing two goals clear of Collingwood’s Travis Cloke in the race for the Coleman.

The award caps off an excellent season for the 26 year old who played in every game this season and averaged three goals, 16.3 disposals, 4.6 marks and 2.5 tackles per game.

He kicked a goal in all but one game (in Round 19 against Richmond) and bagged five goals four times – against Greater Western Sydney, West Coast, Port Adelaide and St Kilda.

He also kicked four goals on seven occasions.

What is remarkable about Roughead’s season though, is the fact he rarely, if ever played exclusively as a full forward, something he believes helped him achieve consistency of performance and have a better season that his 75 goal year in 2008.

“I’d say this has been my most consistent year,” he told hawthornfc.com.au

“In 2008, I was just a forward who relied on kicking goals but this year I’ve been able to play in the midfield and play a few different positions, which has probably helped me when I’ve had some off days as a forward.”

His importance to Hawthorn this season hasn’t just been his ability to kick goals, rather his versatility and capability to play in a variety of different roles.

It was in Round 7 that Roughead and his coach Alastair Clarkson shocked footy fans when the dominant full forward stood in the centre square of the MCG not as a ruckman, but a rover in the win over Sydney.

The move shocked many, but not Roughead nor his teammates given his athleticism and hunger for the contest.

Roughead himself says it was a move that enabled him to gain confidence if the game wasn’t going his way on any particular day.

“It definitely helps to get into the game if you’re not getting it as a forward,” he said.

“You can go into the ruck or into the midfield and get a couple of touches to build your confidence from there.

“We’re lucky enough that we’ve got blokes who can play in a number of different positions and that adds a bit of “dangerous” to the group.”

It is hard to believe that just two years ago, in June 2011, he ruptured his Achilles tendon against the Cats and had many questioning his ability to return and be the versatile and dynamic player he had been up until that time.

But Roughead, who was 24 at the time of the injury, never doubted his ability to return and again reach the heights of his already successful AFL career.

“I never had any doubts,” he said.

“I was only 24 when I did it so I had youth on my side and from the moment it happened, I didn’t really think I wasn’t going to be able to get back and play footy.”

He made his comeback in Round 2 last season, and almost immediately made an impact for his team.

He played 23 games in 2012, including all three of his team’s finals and kicked 41 goals as a forward and relief ruckman – a role that many doubted he would play once he returned.

“I was having a pretty good year up until I did it and when I came back I played in the same position,” he said.

“It would have been a pretty good year if we had won the flag last year but it wasn’t meant to be - hopefully we can make up for it this year.”