Watch Jarryd Roughead's press conference in full.

HAWTHORN utility Jarryd Roughead says the Hawks are building towards a difficult draw over the next month, starting with the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium on Sunday. 

The Hawks play the Western Bulldogs on Sunday before doing battle with Collingwood, Essendon and Geelong in successive weeks.

Roughead says that the team is building towards those matches and looking forward to testing themselves against the “big sides”.

“To get into some good form coming into those sides is what you want going into the latter part of the year,” he said at the Ricoh Centre on Monday.

“We’re building towards those big sides.

“What better way to test yourself than in the next month.

“We’ve got three of the four big clubs and we’re looking forward to it.”

Since the Round 9 loss to the Tigers, the Hawks have strung together five successive wins, with an average winning margin of 86 points.

Roughead says the loss to the Tigers taught the playing group a lot about intent and the desire to win the ball.

It is something that has stayed with the players, aiming to implement that desire for the contest week in, week out.

“We looked at how much they wanted to get in and get the ball and the hunt I suppose,” Roughead said.

“They (Richmond) proved to us what teams can do when they set themselves to play good sides.

“Ever since then, we’ve looked at the opposition and do the same to them as what the Tigers did to us, then that goes a long way to helping you win, which is what’s happened in the past five weeks.”

Despite being aware of facing the top sides in the next month, Roughead reiterated that the Hawks aren’t looking too far into the future.

Instead, Roughead says their eyes are firmly placed on this weekend’s opponent.

“Everyone says that we’re playing them in the next few weeks and I suppose we know (we’re playing them),” he said.

“We play them (Bulldogs) on Sunday and we’re looking forward to playing them.
“One week at a time, that’s all we can keep doing.

“Any side can win on their given day so we’ve got to make sure that we’re on our toes and ready to go this weekend.”

Roughead is set to play his 150th match for the Hawks after being drafted with pick two in the 2004 AFL draft.

He joins Jordan Lewis and Lance Franklin who also reached 150 games this season, and says it’s a privilege to play footy with some of his best friends.

“It’s a good milestone but it’s more important if we get the win,” Roughead said.

“We came together when the Club wasn’t as strong as it is now so to see that change and what’s happened since then, it’s good to do it with blokes like that and have some fun along the way.”

Kate Salemme is a member of Hawthorn Football Club’s Digital media team reporting exclusively for hawthornfc.com.au from the Ricoh Centre.