Jesse Hogan’s decision-making process won’t be about money but rather where Melbourne is headed
IN the battle to keep Jesse Hogan, one thing above all else will be critical for Melbourne, and it won’t be the size of the cheque, Jay Clark writes.
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IN the battle to keep Jesse Hogan, one thing above all else will be critical for Melbourne, and it won’t be the size of the cheque.
Fremantle fans are abuzz with the prospect of landing the gun key forward, with former Eagle Karl Langdon calling a move to Freo a “fait accompli”.
Brisbane Lions legend Jonathan Brown suggested the Dockers should put up $15 million over 10 years, which would make Hogan’s deal bigger than Lance Franklin’s.
But as the Demons prepare to take on Western Bulldogs on Sunday, Melbourne officials should feel more confident than ever that the 195cm power forward will put pen to paper.
Why? Look at the ladder.
What Hogan will want to see, more than anything else as he weighs up his future, is the prospect of team success in the red and blue.
And the Melbourne tree is now bearing sweet and juicy fruit for the first time since it last played finals in 2006.
There is top-end talent, a clear plan and a good feeling at the Dees.
Last weekend they were the youngest team of the round, and belted a beleaguered Gold Coast by 73 points. Their average points scored has skyrocketed from 71 a game last season to 109 this year.
And off the field, Hogan is enjoying life in Melbourne more than ever, with his back injuries behind him.
We don’t expect the Rising Star winner to make his mind up on a new deal until the end of the season at the earliest, and sources say Melbourne isn’t pressuring Hogan at all with hefty numbers.
Rather, it has said, ‘‘Let us know when you’re ready to talk’’.
There are no mind games under the Peter Jackson administration.
Encouragingly, Hogan will like that there is a spread of talent at Melbourne, and its success or failure doesn’t ride on his boot.
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He kicked only one goal in the win over Gold Coast, none in the victory against Richmond and seven goals in the loss to St Kilda.
In the AFL Coaches award, Hogan (nine votes) is fifth at the Dees behind future captain Jack Viney (36), dominant ruckman Max Gawn (24), skipper Nathan Jones (12) and recharged utility Jack Watts (11), so there are other A-Graders.
And there are first-round draft picks Christian Petracca, Christian Salem, Angus Brayshaw, Clayton Oliver and first-year athletic key forward Sam Weideman all coming through.
Importantly, Hogan gets on well with Simon Goodwin, who is taking the coaching reins from Paul Roos next season.
Melbourne would wonder why we are so fascinated with the 21-year-old’s contract, given his deal doesn’t expire until the end of next season.
But Hogan’s signature is massive for the Demons.
If he left, it would be the biggest departure perhaps since Nathan Buckley left Brisbane after winning the Rising Star and polling 14 Brownlow votes in his first season.
Melbourne would want an extraordinary trade package in return for the spearhead, in line with the Chris Judd and Patrick Dangerfield deals, if not more given Hogan’s age.
But the Demons would be growing more confident by the week, or, more specifically, by the win, that it won’t get to that.
Certainly, his teammates think so.
And for good reason.
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