After a week away thanks to the bye round, the classic game review series is coming back with a bang.
I want to quote Anthony Hudson who said this at the end of the game we will be talking about in this article today.
“These are the moments, these are the days where footy really gets you, doesn’t it”?
Said directly after the final siren, Huddo highlighted the enormity of the occasion, despite the lopsided scoreboard not entirely fitting the theme of this series.
It was the day Hawthorn sent off one of their absolute favourite sons, Jarryd Roughead, into retirement, with the Round 22 clash of 2019 being his last in a genuinely bonkers career.
With the four time premiership star, Coleman medalist and former club captain, Roughead announced his retirement, the Round 22 clash against soon to be wooden spooners Gold Coast seemed the logical farewell, given the Hawks went to Perth to finish their campaign.
It was a carnival-like atmosphere at Marvel stadium, with nearly every member of the 31,000 under the roof wearing the Brown and Gold and wanting to send off a hero the right way.
The first quarter set the tone for the day, with the Hawks dominating and looking for the big Rough at every chance possible, not seen since Fev in the last quarter of 2008.
Roughy was able to snag two in the first quarter, with James Worpel, Tim O’Brien, Tom Scully and Isaac Smith getting in on the fun and ensuring a 30-point quarter-time lead.
The roar when Roughead took his first mark off the back of a Chad Wingard pass was huge and when he slotted the major, the feeling was unbelievable.
Quarter number two was much of the same, with Hawthorn genuinely dominating the play but not being able to get the big fella involved with a funny Jack Gunston moment highlighting the focus of the players.
Poor Jack did the right thing and dropped into a hole of space, without knowing that was made as a Jarryd Roughead-tailored leading lane.
Still kicked the goal though, which we love from Jack and he wasn’t happy, throwing his head back when he turned d a grinning Rough was ahead of him, with the realisation.
After Tom Scully, James Worpel, Liam Shiels and Chad Wingard had kicked second-quarter goals, Isaac Smith tried to pinpoint Roughead on the lead.
Us Hawks fans know all about the struggles Roughead had to go through to get to this point in 2019 and despite not getting a fifth premiership medal, his CV reads unbelievably.
The third quarter was the most even with three goals to each side, but after leading at half time by 50 points, the result was nearly irrelevant at this stage.
The big man wearing the number two for the last time managed to kick two of the three goals for the term, taking his tally to four for the day and with a quarter to go, he wanted more!
Nearly as much as the fans did, who didn’t want anyone else kicking snags.
What happened in the last quarter was like something out of a movie; with every pair of eyes in the stadium on the retiring star.
After a fifth early in the fourth, things went quiet and much to the dismay of his teammates and the crowd, Rough gave off a goal to Chad Wingard, but there was time for the fairy tale finish.
Jack Gunston entered inside 50 with Roughy running onto the footy, wheeling onto that trusty left and kicking goal number six for the afternoon and 578 for his career.
Not only did the big man go nuts, running around like Shane Warne after wicket 700, but the crowd went absolutely bonkers, showing the love the fanbase had for him.
The siren sounded and the fairytale finish was completed, with the Hawks sending Roughy off a winner, something extremely familiar for him throughout his career.
Final scores read:
Hawthorn 18.10.118
Gold Coast 7.6.48
Jarryd Roughead was obviously the man of the hour and his six goals for the day stole the show, but there were some ridiculous performances to back him up.
James Worpel had 34 disposals and kicked two goals on his way to a best and fairest, Tom Scully played arguably his best game for the club with 26 disposals and two goals and Chad Wingard teased the class he had with 22 disposals and two majors.
The party continued long after the final siren, with Hawks fans ensuring the man known as Rough had the best send off possible.
Amongst fans, it remains one of the best days at the footy in memory and a fitting end for a man who bought so much joy!
We love ya, Rough!!!
