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Roughy cover art

Roughy

By: Jarryd Roughead
Narrated by: Daniel Moore
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Publisher's Summary

Cancer doesn't discriminate.

When things were at their worst for Jarryd Roughead, his four premierships, two All-Australian gongs and a Coleman Medal counted for nothing. Being that rare footballer who was as loved by opposition fans as his own was no help either.

As he spent his days vomiting or curled up with the cat and his nights in a pool of sweat, fully clothed yet freezing, rolling out of bed every couple of hours to dunk his feet in cold water to douse the feeling that they were on fire, all that mattered was that he didn't stop believing. Belief is one of those intangibles that puts great athletes above the pack. But this was no game. Roughead knew he had to keep believing he'd get better, otherwise he'd lose. And if he lost this battle, there would be no next week.

Roughy is the story of a footballer who lived the dream, the country boy who not only became an AFL star, but was a key player in a Hawthorn team that will be remembered as one of the greats of any era. Success didn't change him, which made him all the more relatable, as if in spirit he was still having a kick with the Leongatha Parrots and a beer with his mates at the local pub. When in 2015 a spot on his bottom lip was diagnosed as melanoma, we could relate to him all the more. When it returned as spots on his lungs the next year, the gravity we routinely attach to football's wins and losses seemed ridiculous.

In Roughy, you'll discover the resilience that got him through horrendous immunotherapy and helped him to not only play AFL again, but as Hawthorn captain. The same trait his forebears had in spades when they emigrated from Scotland, found no joy on the Victorian goldfields, so made their way to Gippsland and put down roots deep enough to have a Roughead St and Roughead Rd named after them (although the street signs have had a strange habit of disappearing over the years).

You'll listen to the stories of his childhood, of the basketballer who switched sports and learned not just to believe, but to expect to be the very best. Of his love for Sarah and their daughter, Pippa, his unwavering will to carry on, his dignity through a final chapter of his career that was dignity personified, with a fairytale ending that was celebrated by all.

©2020 Jarryd Roughead (P)2020 Penguin Random House Australia

What listeners say about Roughy

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Sport, health and life story of an Australian Sports Star

An easy flowing life story and reflection of a great Australian sports star that honestly details the roller coaster of life. Country kid with sporting ability, achieves the highest achievement of Premiership glory and the top of ones field only to face life threatening illness, with the lows of lifesaving experimental treatment, before return to health, including the sporting field again. Messages to be gained for any reader. Highly recommend and thanks to Roughy for telling his story, including the strength of support from your wife Sarah.

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Perfect summary of a champion

Great story and told in a way that was truly Roughy. A true champion and fantastic story.

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What a great read!

I am not even sure why I picked this book?? But I loved the backstory, the footy story and the story around Jayyrd’s approach to and subsequent cancer recovery
I feel like I know more about you and the fabulous village of people you have around you
Good luck with the next phase of your life

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Roughy - the great man!

What a great story. Yes, I'm a Hawks fan, and have a dog named Rough, and this book has made me respect him more as a footballer and so much more as a person.

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Roughy

Loved this book as a loyal one eyed Hawthorn supporter and a roughie lover I love finally hearing his story.

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Solid Footy player story

Not bad. Just doesn't really tell much that didn't know anyway. The relationship between Roughy and Clarko was good to hear about though.

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In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.