One line of commentary that sparked Giants forward’s decline

Jesse Hogan had the world at his feet, lost it all, and now has a redemption arc for the ages – thanks to one line of commentary.

Hogan struggled at Fremantle. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

Jesse Hogan had the football world at his feet when he came into the AFL.

A hulking 17-year-old with the ability to “tear games apart”, according to pathways coaches.

Veteran coach Terry Wallace even labelled him the best teenager since Chris Grant.

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He was anointed the chosen one that would lift Melbourne from its 50-year premiership drought, only for it to all fall apart.

Hogan won the 2015 Rising Star, leading Melbourne’s goalkicking as a 20-year-old, and was seemingly destined for inevitable greatness, when he received the biggest shock of his career to that point.

Jesse Hogan has found serenity alongside a new club at the Giants. Photo: Phil Hillyard

After being held to just one goal, eight disposals and four marks by Essendon’s Mitch Brown in a early-season 2016 clash at the MCG, three-time Coleman Medallist and Essendon legend Matthew Lloyd unloaded on a young Hogan’s body language, questioning his effort and suggesting Hogan needed a stint in the reserves.

“I’ve watched him live the last two weeks and his body language has been horrific,” Lloyd told AFL.com.au’s Access All Areas at the time.

“He’s being so demonstrative towards his teammates.

“He’s getting out-bodied (in marking contests), but he’s not even trying. He’s either having a go at umpires or he’s having a go at his teammates.

“It’s (Hogan’s body language) that drastic and another week or two of that and they’ll have no alternative but to send him back to the VFL.

“We’re seeing a different side to Jesse where, when he’s challenged, he flips out.”

Jesse Hogan won the 2015 Rising Star at Melbourne. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

As a youngster, Hogan had the world at his feet. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

Hogan, reflecting on the remarks to News Corp’s Jon Ralph, said Lloyd’s criticism had gotten to him.

“I didn’t have a negative thing written about me in the first three years,” Hogan told Code Sports.

“And then I remember it vividly. My run-up was a bit off and Matty Lloyd went at me. I couldn’t believe it. It really rattled me.”

The following year, Hogan was diagnosed with testicular cancer, the month after his father Tony lost his own battle with cancer – and it would send him into a spiral.

A shift home to Fremantle didn’t have the effect Hogan hoped for. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

Jesse Hogan was filmed drunk in a Santa suit before his debut for Fremantle in 2019. Photo: Facebook

It would coincide with a foot fracture at the end of 2018 and see him traded west to Fremantle, seeking refuge in the familiar pastures of home.

“I thought a fresh start would instantly make it right,” he said.

“I couldn’t have been more wrong.”

That summer, video emerged of Hogan stumbling around a house party in his underwear and a Santa suit at the same time as he was dropped from the 2019 season opener for breaching the club’s alcohol policy.

“I was isolated from the group and didn’t enjoy it and I knew the pressure was there,” he said.

“I take full responsibility. I am not making excuses. But it was rough. The pressure was there and it felt too much.”

Hogan would struggle consistently at Fremantle before being released from the final year of his contract and traded for peanuts to Greater Western Sydney in 2021, marking the beginning of a resurgence for the talented forward.

Hogan is coming off a career year as he leads a Giants forward line seeking a maiden premiership. Photo by Phil Hillyard

The relative anonymity of Sydney, as well as the perspective offered by staying with Giants veteran ruck Shane Mumford, sparked a refreshing shift for Hogan.

He would kick four goals on his Giants debut and has since averaged 2.2 goals a game, culminating in a career-high 48 goals so far this season.

Hogan will be looking forward to continuing to prove his doubters wrong ahead of the biggest game of his career on Friday, which will see him line up in a preliminary final as the Giants hunt a maiden premiership.

Hogan’s full interview with Code Sports can be found here.

Originally published as One line of commentary that sparked Giants forward’s decline