Hawthorn skipper Jarryd Roughead playing future beyond 2018 will be openly discussed post-season as the four-time premiership player battles to recapture his best form.

The Hawks spearhead is contracted for 2019 and his potential retirement, which has been a topic of discussion in recent times, would come after ex-teammate Cyril Rioli's recent decision to hang up his boots.

Rioli had two years left on his contract when he made the heartful decision - that was based on an entirely different set of circumstances, however.

Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson, who arrived at the club only two months prior to Roughead being drafted, advised reporters that there had been zero discussion with the 2013 Coleman medallist.

Roughead's lack of playing form had been on the agenda since May, after he was held goalless for two weeks for the first time in three seasons.

"It will all depend a bit little on Roughey," Clarkson said.

"He's still contracted and we're really keen to see out contracts where we possibly can, but his form wouldn't have been to the standard he would have liked throughout the course of this year.

"Having said that, his second half against the Bulldogs only a week ago was first-class, as was a lot of our players. We had an outstanding second half in that game.

"He was poor, together with a number of other players (against Brisbane) … 'Roughy' is one of about a dozen players who needs to play a bit better than he did last week."

Clarkson is notoriously strict with his list management, spotlighted with his most recent offloading off long serving midfielders Sam Mitchell and Jordan Lewis.

The master coach had acquired Tom Mitchell from Sydney and Jaeger O'Meara from the Gold Coast in the same trade period.

Two years on, the Hawks are among sides leading the race for Suns forward Tom Lynch.

"We haven't even spoken about (Roughead's future) and we probably won't until later in the year," Clarkson said.

"He's still contracted and we're hoping we can put some solid form together, get some wins, get ourselves into the finals, then we'll talk about it at the end of the year."

Roughead might even fill the void in defence with star backman James Sicily missing with a broken wrist. Although Jack Gunston appears the favoured candidate for this role.

Hawthorn face Carlton this weekend, a side coached by one of Clarkson's former assistants in Brendon Bolton.