Selected with the 31st selection in the 2008 AFL Draft, after playing for the North Ballarat Rebels in the TAC Cup,[4] Roughead played as a ruckman but was capable of filling a key position up forward and in defence.
In round 5 of 2010, Roughead made his AFL debut against Adelaide at Etihad Stadium. He performed well, gathering 9 disposals (3 kicks and 6 handballs), taking 4 marks, making 3 tackles and kicking a goal.[5]
During the 2012 season, Bulldogs coach Brendan McCartney moved Roughead into defence. He remained in this position until mid-2015 when McCartney's successor as coach, Luke Beveridge, moved him back into the ruck.
Roughead was announced as the vice captain for 2015. However, he relinquished the position at the end of the season, choosing instead to focus on his sole performance as footballer.
In 2016, Roughead played in the Bulldogs' drought-breaking 22-point Grand Final win against the Sydney Swans, amassing 13 disposals and 17 hit-outs from 75% game time.
Collingwood (2019–2022)
At the end of the 2018 season, Roughead was traded to Collingwood in the last 30 minutes of the AFL trade period.[6]
On 27 May 2022, Roughead announced his retirement after 201 games. He had only played 1 game in the first 10 rounds due to a finger injury.[7]
Statistics
Statistics are correct to the end of the 2022 season[8]
^The 2020 season was played with 17 home-and-away matches per team (down from 22) and 16-minute quarters with time on (down from 20-minute quarters with time on) due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Roughead was twice-nominated for the Jim Stynes Community Leadership Award, at the Western Bulldogs in 2017 [10] and Collingwood in 2021.[11] His community work was largely across four key focus areas including the LGBTIQA+ community, climate action, youth homelessness and women’s sports.[11]
Personal life
Roughead grew up a Bulldogs supporter.[12] His cousin is four-time premiership player and former Hawthorn captain Jarryd Roughead.[3] He has completed a Masters of Business (Sports Management)[13] and is currently studying a Master of Business Administration at Deakin University.[14]