GIVEN his two most recent trips south have netted nine goals and highlighted the importance of his versatility to the Hawks, Jarryd Roughead may well be first in line at Tullamarine Airport for the club's next flight to Launceston.

The key forward has been used in a number of positions around the ground by Alastair Clarkson in recent weeks, and his excellent comeback from a season-ending achilles injury in 2011 was just part of the reason the Hawks coach was beaming after his side's 56-point demolition of Fremantle on Saturday.

"For him to do the work he did in the ruck, kick four and miss a couple in the last quarter he'd normally nail, he did a really good job," Clarkson said of the 25-year-old's eye-catching performance.

Hurt by the loss of No.1 ruckman Max Bailey early in the year, Clarkson admitted Roughead's ability to pinch-hit on the ball was a big bonus for the side, but that his importance to the club's forward structure was even greater.

"We shared around the goal kickers today which was really good. 'Roughy' got his four (and) we thought 'Buddy' played really well for us today. He had over 20 touches but only kicked the one goal which is really pleasing for us in the sense we had a solid win, a number of goal kickers, 'Buddy' still makes an important contribution for us but there's not that onus on him being the man all the time in our forward half."

Roughead was typically affable in reflecting on his latest performance at Aurora Stadium, preferring to point out the Hawks' overall improvement following their loss to the Swans on their last trip to Tasmania.

"It's been good to get a couple of goals down here, and a few kicks. The second half against Sydney wasn't great but today was a four quarter effort," he said.

"To kick nine goals in the first half against Freo - you're [usually] lucky to get nine goals in the whole game."

While he's getting closer to his best with every match he plays, the 193cm lad from Leongatha is still looking for improvement.

"The game's changed in the six months I've been out," he said. "You're always adapting and getting used to it.

"The body feels good and the fitness is getting there. It's now a matter of backing up each week and getting right for the rest of the year."

Above all, he'll be looking to play the role required of him on a weekly basis and continuing to do as much as possible to keep the wins coming as the Hawks look to live up to their pre-season premiership favouritism.

"We're not pigeonholed just to play forward," he said. "'Bud' kicks one or two today, I was lucky to get a few and 'Haley' kicks one in that last quart ... if we can get that spread of goal kickers it becomes dangerous.

"If we can get that flexibility and balance it's going to be dangerous for us each week which is good.

"I kicked two points today, it'd be nice to kick six (goals) but the main thing is we get the wins. We've got three on the trot now and next week we've got Richmond who are going to have a big game tonight against Essendon, so we'll sit back and watch them and hopefully they belt each other and we're right to go next week."

The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs