Hawthorn champ getsg no guarantee
BIG TASK: Changkuoth Jiath will make his debut for the Hawks against the Giants. Inset: Jarryd Roughead. AFL: A Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson says he “won’t be swayed by sentiment” when it comes to making a decision on whether veteran Jarryd Roughead plays a farewell game.
With two of the Hawks’ last three games interstate, next round’s clash against Gold Coast at Marvel Stadium is their last at home – and best chance for fans to celebrate the former skipper’s career.
Hawks captain Ben Stratton last week declared he wanted the chance to play with the four-time premiership star again, but Clarkson remains hesitant to commit to a farewell match.
“Who knows … we’d like to think Roughy will play again for us,” he said.
“Things happen in games of footy that send you down a different direction and I would hate to make a commitment to all and sundry that’s going to happen and then it doesn’t.
“We’ll wait and see what happens next week. We are not opposed to it, nor are we making a declaration right now that’s it’s going to happen either.”
Roughead has played just seven senior games this season – his most recent in Round 14 against Sydney.
“There is a romantic side of footy … but we have got to factor in a whole number of factors including what is the future of the footy club and is he taking some young fella’s spot,” Clarkson said.
“We won’t be swayed by overall sentiment just because players, or Roughy, or a board member would like to see it happen.”
It will be anything but a warm welcome to AFL for young
Hawk Changkuoth Jiath, who will make his debut in what is expected to be bitterly cold conditions against the GWS Giants in Canberra tonight.
Out of the finals race, the Hawks needed to make at least one change for the match to replace veteran defender Grant Birchall, who is set to be sidelined for the rest of the season with a hamstring injury.
“He still is pretty raw,” Clarkson said of Jiath. “A lot of young guys coming into the game are that way, they just need to get their bodies to a point where they are strong enough to withstand the rigours of AFL footy week to week and month to month. He is still going through that process.”
Clarkson said his players would have to “tough it out” in the cold conditions.
“I’m not sure an AFL game has ever been played in snow, it would be a pretty exciting day if that was the case,” he said. “I don’t think Adidas make longsleeve jumpers for our boys ... so, they’ll just have to tough it out.” — Rebecca Williams