Rough trot for needy Hawks

HAWTHORN’S urgency for Jarryd Roughead’s return is almost as crucial as his welfare.

Roughead missed only two games in the Hawks’ premiership rampage over the past two seasons – and they lost both.

Admittedly, away games against Port Adelaide in Round 10 and Fremantle in Round 21 last year were tough assignments, but the versatile Hawk, who kicked 72 and 75 goals in those triumphant seasons, is almost irreplaceable.

Roughead will miss at least tonight’s game against Collingwood and the next round against AFL ladder- leader Fremantle in Launceston following surgery on Wednesday to remove a melanoma on his lower lip.

“We don’t know when he’ll be back. We do know there’s still a few more tests to do on the skin around the lip. We’ll probably know those results mid to late next week,” Hawks football manager Chris Fagan said yesterday.

“If everything goes well, he might be available in two or three weeks time.”

Fagan said Roughead remains upbeat after the operation on the skin cancer, discovered when a club doctor referred him to a specialist to check a lesion on his lip.

“We talked to the group this morning, it was important they got the news from us. They handled it well and they know Rough’s expectation of them will just be to put that behind them and go out and play well tomorrow night,” Fagan said.

“They ( doctors) were very happy how the surgery went last night, but we can’t stand here and say categorically that he’s all clear because there’s still some tests to be done.

“Rough is like the carer in the group, he cares for everybody else, so they’re all obviously concerned and hope that he makes a full recovery.

“Because he’s fair and has got ginger hair, he gets his skin checked every six months. He’s diligent on that, so that’s something Rough has been living with all his life and will continue to do so.

“He’s the most diligent player, he always has plenty of sunscreen at training, wears a hat, has long sleeves, does all the right things. It’s a really good message to everybody just how careful you have to be.’’