[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.

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.

[14] He is a co-owner of Hawthorn cafe Whiplash,[15] alongside past and present Collingwood FC players, Brody Mihocek, Nathan Murphy and Callum Brown.