Western Bulldogs ruckman Jordan Roughead has revealed how close he came to pulling out of the team - and denying himself what turned out to be premiership joy.
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Roughead had bleeding in his eye after being hit by the football during the preliminary final against Greater Western Sydney. When the team returned to Melbourne last Sunday, he was ordered by an eye specialist to spend hours in a dark room in a bid to fast-track the healing process.
This meant he spent considerable time away from his teammates on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, a period when he thought his flag hopes may be over. At one stage, he almost sent a text to Tom Campbell, his fellow ruckman, to let Campbell know his spot was available.
"Early in the week I was in a bit of doubt. I nearly texted big Tommy Campbell and said: 'Mate, you have just won a VFL premiership, you might have to get yourself up for an AFL grand final'. But, fortunately enough, I had some great medical staff around me," he said.
"They looked after me and got me through it and said if I did what I had to do, I would be a chance to get out there."
Roughead, 25, said he had been unable to do much in terms of physical preparation while his eye healed.
"I did have to spend a fair bit of time in dark rooms. It was a pretty boring start to the week," he said.
"Sunday, Monday, I saw the specialist and that was it - back into bed. By Tuesday, I spent a couple of hours at the club and got amongst it. At Thursday, I trained."
He confirmed his spot in the team after visiting the eye specialist on Friday morning, and would go on to play an important role as the Dogs ended a 62-year premiership drought.
Roughead had 13 disposals, five marks and 17 hit outs and competed aggressively against Sam Naismith and Kurt Tippett.
His father, Paul, a former Bulldogs reserves player, spent plenty of time with his son through the week. Paul knew what the opportunity to win a flag would mean to his son.
"He has followed the Bulldogs all his life. The week before he was drafted, he came home and there was no letter from the Bulldogs. (There was from) Essendon, West Coast but nothing from the Bulldogs," he said.
"He (Jordan) said: 'I would love to have something from the Bulldogs. I would really love to get drafted not because I barrack for them but I would just love to be part of their next premiership'.
"And it's happened, it's absolutely stunning."
Roughead was taken as a second-round selection - No.31 overall - by the Dogs in the 2008 national draft.
Another family member, cousin Jarryd, of Hawthorn fame, also had a small but important role in grand final week, helping Jordan ease any pressure he may have been feeling.
Jarryd, a basketball fan, told Jordan to go and watch clutch championship games by superstars Michael Jordan - namely game six against Utah in 1998 when his game-winning shot secured his sixth and final championship - and LeBron James.
The challenge now for Jordan is to try and match his cousin's four premierships.
"Jarryd has got four of these," he said, clutching his premiership medal, "so I'll have to work my way up - but it's a good place to start."
