AT A GLANCE
11 wins / 6 losses – 5th on ladder
Lost Preliminary Final v Puttanesca Chiefs
Wins
| Round 1 | Solomon’s Soldiers |
| Round 3 | The Love Sparkles |
| Round 4 | Lethal Vipers |
| Round 7 | The Taxmanian Devils |
| Round 8 | Te Puke Pukekos |
| Round 9 | Feelin Dusty |
| Round 15 | The Love Sparkles |
| Round 17 | MaherShalalHashBaz |
| Round 18 | Defenestrators |
| Round 19 | The Taxmanian Devils |
| Round 20 | Te Puke Pukekos |
| Elimination Final | Lethal Vipers |
TOP 5 SCORERS 2021
| Roughnecks | Tot. | Avg. | Last 5 Avg |
| Tim Taranto GWS | 2371 | 107.8 | 87.8 |
| Luke Parker SY | 2185 | 99.3 | 100.8 |
| Jake Lloyd SY | 2063 | 98.2 | 104.5 |
| Jaeger O’Meara HW | 1726 | 95.9 | 112 |
| Christian Salem ME | 1951 | 92.9 | 85 |
ALL-AUSTRALIANS
Note: Jake Lloyd also played multiple games for the Love Sparkles this year.
2021 PRE-SEASON DRAFT
| Pick | Player | Team | Games | Avg | Still on List? |
| 7 | J. Cameron GE – F | Roughnecks | 6 | 65 | Y |
| 27 | L. Baker RI – B | Roughnecks | 14 | 72.5 | Y |
| 37 | P. Dow CA – C,F | Roughnecks | 4 | 58 | Y |
| 54 | I. Cumming GWS – B | Roughnecks | 14 | 81.1 | N |
| 57 | L. Pedlar AD – C | Roughnecks | 0 | 0 | Y |
| 71 | H. Cunningham SY – B | Roughnecks | 6 | 67 | N |
| 77 | S. May ME – B | Roughnecks | 15 | 71.5 | Y |
| 87 | L. Breust HW – F | Roughnecks | 6 | 51.7 | N |
| 107 | S. Berry AD – C | Roughnecks | 0 | 0 | Y |
| 117 | L. Vandermeer WB – C,F | Roughnecks | 0 | 0 | N |
| 118 | B. Starcevich BL – B | Roughnecks | 0 | 0 | N |
| 127 | M. Bergman PA – F | Roughnecks | 6 | 68.2 | Y |
| 137 | J. Ross RI – C | Roughnecks | 1 | 46 | N |
| 147 | J. Cripps WC – F | Roughnecks | 12 | 69.6 | N |
| 157 | D. Howe HW – B,C | Roughnecks | 8 | 80.3 | Y |
| 167 | C. Jones AD – C | Roughnecks | 0 | 0 | N |
| 168 | N. McHenry AD – F | Roughnecks | 0 | 0 | N |
| 177 | T. McDonald ME – F | Roughnecks | 16 | 78 | Y |
| 187 | H. McKay CA – F | Roughnecks | 13 | 72.8 | Y |
| 197 | R. Lobb FR – R,F | Roughnecks | 11 | 64.6 | N |
Most inspired selection: Daniel Howe – pick 157 (round 16)
In a draft sporting 8 defender selections, it was the 2nd to last one that was the most inspiring. Howe played 19 games at an average of 79 points. He also demonstrated a high level of consistency and averaged 103 in the finals. You have to be happy with that.
Not far behind was Tom McDonald – pick 177 (round 18). Coach Adam saves his best picks until last, as Tom McDonald had somewhat of a resurgent season. With 4 100’s across the season and playing 20 games, he was a great pick especially considering the scarcity of quality forwards this year.
Rest of draft
Not a bad draft with a good spread of wins here. Issac Cumming was a great pick and was upgraded to Jake Lloyd, which is a nice win. Baker was solid if not spectacular for a 3rd round pick, playing 22 games and improved as the season wore on. Steven May was also solid in defense, also averaging low 70’s and playing 20 games. And did I mention about the Roughnecks late draft blossoms, Harry McKay was stellar in 19 games on his way to a Coleman Medal with keeper potential at just 24. And Rory Lobb would have added to that tally of late round successes, had he not been an early drop. Some nice signs from the likes of Miles Bergman too. The Roughnecks would be disappointed in the output from 1st round pick Jeremy Cameron. Given the talent of the Geelong midfield, he would have been expecting a much better return, but alas injuries limited his output.
TRADES
| Date | Team 1 | Received | Team 2 | Received | Team 3 | Received |
| 30 June 2021 | Roughnecks | Lethal Vipers Rd 1 Pick Jayden Laverde Josh J. Kennedy | Solomon’s Soldiers | Kane Lambert Chad Wingard | ||
| 4 May 2021 | Roughnecks | Jake Lloyd Brad Hill | Love Sparkles | Adam Cerra Isaac Cumming | ||
| 6 March 2021 | Solomon’s Soldiers | Lethal Vipers Round 7 pick | Lethal Vipers | Roughnecks Round 10 Pick Defenestrators Round 10 pick | ||
| 1 March 2021 | Te Puke Pukekos | Solomon’s Soldiers Round 4 – Pick 38 Te Puke Pukekos Round 9 – Pick 84 | Roughnecks | Te Puke Pukekos Round 6 – Pick 54 Solomon’s Soldiers Round 12 – Pick 118 Solomon’s Soldiers Round 17 – Pick 168 | Solomon’s Soldiers | Te Puke Pukekos Round 7 – Pick 64 |
Two big trades here for the Roughnecks, as they pulled the trigger on some big name players. A low-key mid-season deal with the Love Sparkles signalled the Roughnecks were all in on 2021. A bounce back from Lloyd and Hill was expected in the 2nd half of the season. Lloyd kinda did, improving his average slightly including a 105 average in finals which was nice. While Hill was up and down but also slightly improved. With the departure of Dawson from the Swans in the offseason, this should give Lloyd opportunity to resume his quarterback role in the defence, and return to his usual scoring.
While effectively losing Wingard for the overall 6th round pick seems like a fairly reasonable trade. Wingard had one of his best seasons as a forward, but injury continued to hold him back, as it has all throughout his career.
LIST AT END OF SEASON
| Roughnecks | Tot. | Avg. | Last 5 Avg |
| Tim Taranto GWS | 2371 | 107.8 | 87.8 |
| Luke Parker SY | 2185 | 99.3 | 100.8 |
| Jake Lloyd SY | 2063 | 98.2 | 104.5 |
| Jaeger O’Meara HW | 1726 | 95.9 | 112 |
| Christian Salem ME | 1951 | 92.9 | 85 |
| Jordan Dawson SY | 1954 | 88.8 | 103 |
| Bailey Smith WB | 1922 | 87.4 | 95.4 |
| Adam Treloar WB | 1133 | 87.2 | 73.7 |
| Reilly O’Brien AD | 1724 | 86.2 | 102.7 |
| Lachie Hunter WB | 1790 | 85.2 | 82 |
| Scott Pendlebury CW | 1519 | 84.4 | 23 |
| Liam Shiels HW | 1769 | 84.2 | 72 |
| Tim English WB | 1446 | 80.3 | 78.4 |
| Daniel Howe HW | 1502 | 79.1 | 89.2 |
| James Rowbottom SY | 1134 | 75.6 | 62.5 |
| Tom McDonald ME | 1490 | 74.5 | 58.3 |
| Jeremy Howe CW | 587 | 73.4 | 76.7 |
| Liam Baker RI | 1601 | 72.8 | 72.8 |
| Steven May ME | 1452 | 72.6 | 65.8 |
| Bradley Hill SK | 1567 | 71.2 | 68.2 |
| Harry McKay CA | 1334 | 70.2 | 87.5 |
| Harry Schoenberg AD | 1527 | 69.4 | 83.8 |
| Luke McDonald NM | 749 | 68.1 | 72.8 |
| Jeremy Cameron GE | 785 | 65.4 | 64 |
| Miles Bergman PA | 1224 | 64.4 | 71.6 |
| Kysaiah Pickett ME | 1414 | 64.3 | 67 |
| George Hewett SY | 1279 | 64 | 77.2 |
| Tom De Koning CA | 787 | 60.5 | 61.4 |
| Nick Blakey SY | 896 | 59.7 | 69 |
| Curtis Taylor NM | 1074 | 59.7 | 66.6 |
| Joel Amartey SY | 353 | 58.8 | – |
| Liam Stocker CA | 963 | 56.6 | 55.2 |
| Max Holmes GE | 396 | 56.6 | 67 |
| Heath Chapman FR | 332 | 55.3 | – |
| Jake Bowey ME | 216 | 54 | 54 |
| Sam Durham ES | 318 | 53 | 53.8 |
| Paddy Dow CA | 807 | 50.4 | 55 |
| Brayden Cook AD | 133 | 44.3 | 44.3 |
| Sam Berry AD | 727 | 42.8 | 32 |
| Luke Pedlar AD | 66 | 33 | – |
PLAYERS TO WATCH IN 2022
Adam Treloar
He had his lowest average in fantasy since his first year in the system, and this was once again largely due to injury holding him back. But looking into the data, prior to his injury in round 10, he hadn’t scored below 100 in his past 7 games. Then when he returned, it took him a while to get going, as he was locked in the forward line until his fitness returned, but come the finals (of the real football) he averaged 110 across the prelim and grand final. Now listed as a forward, he is primed to be the best forward for the season (injury pending). I have no doubt he can return to a 105+ averaging scorer, in the Western Bulldogs fantasy friendly game style.
George Hewett
Two 90’s to finish the season has to have coach Adam at least a little intrigued. A move to a new club, and the potential for more midfield opportunity, he might get the consistent crack at it he never got playing as a tagger alongside Parker and Kennedy. And with back status, what’s there to lose. Could see a world where he is a top 10 defender.
2021 IN REVIEW
The Roughnecks had some thrilling close matchups this year, defeating heavy weights Soloman’s Soldiers by 8 pts in Round 1, losing to the Defenestrators by 30 pts in Round 6, only to exact their revenge in Round 18 by 40 pts. Losing to the Chiefs (Round 11) by 40 and the Vipers (Round 16) by 50 (with Jeremy Cameron injured on 3 goals just after qtr time).
However it was a somewhat indifferent year for the perennial flag contenders. They played well, but not up to their potential. Their draft was solid, but no 85+ averaging diamonds in the rough. It all felt like what could have been, like the engine never really got going, and it feels like coach Adam saw it too, trading away Wingard for a pick, signalling that it wasn’t going to be their year. They are still a club that can hold their head up high, with 5 wins in the last 6 rounds including a finals win over the then 4th placed Vipers.
They did shape many other teams fates though, knocking out the Vipers, setting the course for the Love Sparkles to tank with a 250 point drubbing in Round 3 and who will forget the famous final round of the regular season where a 1900+ score saw the Roughneck defeat the Te Puke Pukekos by over 100 pts, enough for them to miss finals on percentage.
2022 promises hope for this team, with the outlook of greater scoring opportunity for the likes of Lloyd, Dawson, Treloar, Hewett, Pedlar, Schoenberg, English and Blakey. Another good draft and some luck and this team once again has the potential to make it to their third grand final appearance, and could go all the way this time.
Season Grade: B