AFL Legend | Jarryd Roughead | Resilience, Family & Life Beyond Footy

Jarryd Roughead: Resilience Beyond the Footy Field
In this inspiring episode of REAL STUFF, host Hunter Johnson sits down with AFL legend Jarryd Roughead. Known for his loyalty to the Hawthorn Football Club, where he spent his entire footy career, Roughead shares his journey from a small-town country kid to a four-time premiership player, reflecting on the profound lessons he’s learnt both on and off the field.
Roughy reminisces about his roots in Leongatha, where he grew up as the eldest of three and embraced his country heritage. Despite the high-profile life in the AFL, his grounded approach has always kept him close to home. He discusses the challenges of transitioning from small-town life to the big city and the pressures that came with being thrust into the AFL system as a top draft pick.
Hunter and Roughy delve into the resilience required to navigate pivotal life moments, including his father’s long battle with MS, his own cancer journey, and his approach to staying positive amid adversity. Jarryd reflects on how footy has shaped him, but also underscores the importance of life beyond the sport, especially as he now balances fatherhood and family.
One of the most personal parts of Jarryd’s story is his battle with skin cancer. At 29, he was confronted with a melanoma diagnosis that eventually spread to his lungs, turning his world upside down. Through gruelling treatments and clinical trials, he managed to beat the odds and make a full recovery. While he never sought the spotlight as a “poster boy” for skin cancer prevention, Jarryd’s experience has turned him into a powerful advocate for sun protection.
Now, Jarryd is teaming up with us to encourage young men to make sunscreen a part of their daily routine. His story is a powerful reminder to take sun safety seriously, because, as Jarryd puts it, “sun protection matters.”