Over a 15 year career, Jarryd Roughead transformed from a talented young athlete to a cult hero of the AFL. Now, he is passing on his knowledge as he works across St Kilda's football department.
Roughead grew up in Leongatha, Victoria, playing in the Gippsland League. Taken by Hawthorn with Pick 2 in the 2004 National Draft, Roughead was originally a versatile tall around the ground, and capped off his debut season with 16 games and a Rising Star Nomination. In 2007 Roughead made his move to the forward line, and in 2008 kicked 75 goals as a vital cog in Hawthorn’s Premiership Team. An amazingly consistent performer, Roughead was rarely marred by injury until 2011, where he tore his Achilles in Round 12 and missed the remainder of the year. He made a return in 2012, playing 23 games including all of Hawthorn’s finals.
2013 was a career best season for Roughead, winning the Coleman medal, playing in his second Premiership, named in the 2013 All-Australian team and finishing runner up in the Hawks Best and Fairest. In 2014 he claimed a third Premiership, Coleman and All-Australian selection, and in 2015 the Hawks completed a three-peat, taking Roughead’s haul to 4 premierships. Roughead faced his toughest battle in 2016 with news a melanoma on his lip had spread, and he stepped away from football to receive treatment. Late in 2016, Roughead received the all-clear following months of immunotherapy, and returned to football in 2017, named captain for the next two seasons. Roughead retired from AFL at the end of 2019 as a one club player, with 283 games, 578 goals, and 4 premierships to his name, alongside a host of individual awards across his 15 seasons. Ahead of the 2020 season, St Kilda secured Roughead’s services in a role servicing many facets of the football department. He currently works across game day, leadership, mentoring, and list management. Away from football, Roughead is father to two children, Pippa and Will.