Out-of-favour former Hawthorn skipper Jarryd Roughead is backing himself in to play senior football again, but says if that doesn't eventuate, he will be content.
Roughead's list of accomplishments during his glittering 15-year career in the AFL is extensive; four premierships, 571 goals, 281 games, club captain, Coleman Medallist, dual All-Australian and a three-time leading goalkicker for Hawthorn.
The 32-year-old was demoted to the VFL after just eight disposals and a goal in the Hawks' Round 7 loss to Melbourne and has been playing for Box Hill since.
Roughead says toiling away at VFL level isn't that bad when compared to the battle St Kilda youngster Paddy McCartin is currently enduring.
McCartin – the No.1 draft pick in 2014 – hasn't played for the Saints since Round 16 last season and has managed just 35 games in total, as he continues to battle concussion issues that have threatened his career.
Speaking on Fox Footy's AFL 360 alongside fellow veteran Jordan Lewis, Roughead said: "Everyone asks are you angry or are you sad? We've (Jordan and I) had our careers.
"I feel more sad for someone like Paddy McCartin going through what he is going through.
"Now us, as a footy collective, have been robbed of seeing a No. 1 draft pick go at it. When you put it into perspective like that, us playing VFL for half a year doesn’t really matter."
Roughead has experienced his own health scares, having undergone immunotherapy treatment for cancer in June, 2016 after being diagnosed with a recurrence of melanoma a month earlier. A melanoma was first detected and removed from Roughead's lip in July, 2015.