Roughead confident of Hawks’ flag
In form: Jarryd Roughead should be a key player in Hawthorn’s grand final this Saturday, after playing against Adelaide at the weekend. Photo courtesy Herald Sun.
HAWTHORN footballer Jarryd Roughead said the Hawks’ experienced teamlist will be an asset heading into this Saturday’s AFL grand final against Sydney.
Roughead said the club’s current players have more football behind them than the 2008 premiership side.
“We were a little bit lucky in 2008 but we fell away in 2009 and 2010, and we worked our way back last year and this year,” he told The Star on Sunday.
Roughead predicted a flurry of messages from well-wishers this week and was confident of success in the club’s most important match of the year.
“We have done the work for 25 games this year,” he said.
Hawthorn has won one game against Sydney and lost one this season, but Roughead said the Hawks only played five “good” quarters across both matches.
“It’s a grand final; it’s a two horse race. We are going to have every chance to get in there and win. It’s in our hands. If we prepare like we have for the previous three to four matches, we should be right,” he said.
Roughead predicts he will play up forward or in the midfield on Saturday and will approach the game with the dedication approach a grand final warrants.
“You just have to sit back and enjoy the week, because you never know if you are going to be involved in one of these (premierships) again, yet alone win one,” he said.
Hawthorn defeated Adelaide by five points during Saturday night’s preliminary final.
Roughead believed the game was not as physical as previous finals, but far from an easy win.
“It was more intensive and a bit nerve-racking, so it was good to get the win,” he said.
“We shot ourselves in the foot by not kicking straight in the first quarter, but we were in front when the siren went.”
Now in his eighth season as an AFL player, Roughead is 10kg heavier and a lot fitter than when he made his debut for the Hawks in 2005.
He was impressed by the Leongatha Reserves’ grand final win on Saturday and said the town remained dear to him.
“You never forget where you came from. I will definitely have a few people come down to the game and have a squiz,” Roughead said.
Season 2012 has been successful for Roughead after he sustained an Achilles injury in 2011, but that injury has since healed.
“I played 22 out of 24 games this year, so the body is feeling good,” he said.
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Posted by Jacob De Kunder on Sep 25 2012. Filed under Featured, Sport. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry
