Melbourne hopes to land Gold Coast’s Steven May if it gets two first-round picks for Jesse Hogan
MELBOURNE is prepared to trade Jesse Hogan but not at any cost, with the Demons hoping to land Steven May if they can get the price they want for their star forward.
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MELBOURNE wants two first-round draft picks in exchange for superstar spearhead Jesse Hogan to boost its hopes of landing Gold Coast’s Steven May.
Hogan, 23, is widely expected to ask for a trade back home to a Western Australian club, with Fremantle leading West Coast in the race for the goal kicker.
Fremantle has pick No. 5 and could secure pick No. 4 from Brisbane as well in exchange for Lachie Neale, to put together as part of a high-priced package for Hogan.
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The Demons have put a high price on the full forward and will only do the deal on the contracted big man if they can use the picks to help fill a void at the other end of the ground.
Collingwood, which has pick No. 17 (before compensation), has loomed large for May all season to help beef-up its own defensive unit.
But Hogan’s departure would most likely catapult Melbourne into the box seat to land the Suns’ skipper if it can secure one or two earlier choices from a WA club for Hogan.
It means the Pies may have to switch targets and instead zero in on Western Bulldogs’ full back Marcus Adams, who is contracted but weighing up a move to leave the kennel.
Melbourne’s back line was pummelled in the preliminary final loss to premier West Coast in Perth and need another strong body to support full back Oscar McDonald and injured interceptor Jake Lever.
The club is expected to claim Gold Coast rebounding half back Kade Kolodjashnij.
Kolodjashnij has nominated the Demons as his preferred home and will likely cost the club a late pick.
Kolodjashnij made a bright start to his career but has fallen out of favour in recent seasons.
The Demons are also in the box seat to nab North Melbourne’s Braydon Preuss.
May is contracted for next season but seems destined to leave Queensland after seven seasons if Gold Coast can strike a suitable deal for the 193cm defender.
The Demons have made clear they will only trade Hogan to the Dockers or Eagles if they can land two early picks, believing he is one of the game’s most talented and damaging forwards.
After 71 games, Hogan averages more possessions (15) and goals (2.1) a game than Geelong’s Tom Hawkins (11 and 1.2), Richmond’s Jack Riewoldt (11 and 2) and Suns’ spearhead Tom Lynch (14 and 1.4) at the same point in their careers.
Melbourne is confident it has a balanced forward mix, including emerging youngster Sam Weideman, gun tall Tom McDonald and tough utility Jake Melksham.
Hogan was in All-Australian form pushing up the ground this season before a nasty foot injury cruelly ended his season.
The Claremont product had surgery to repair the stress fracture in his navicular bone mid-August.
Hogan also battled a cancer scare and lost his father last year.
Melbourne skipper Nathan Jones said he would support any decision from Hogan to be closer to family in WA for 2019.
“Jesse has had a lot of stuff going on in his life and I haven’t broached it (trade) with him, but whether it’s a fresh start and that’s what he is after (that is fine),” Jones said.
“He would know how much we love him as teammates and as mates, but some of these decisions are outside of that.
“He has got to consider family, friends and obviously what’s best for his own performance as a footballer and a person.”
“If he has made that decision it’s something I would support him with.”
Hogan is contracted for one more season, on a deal worth about $900,000 a year. The 195cm running machine was one of the highest paid players at Melbourne.
His contracted status means the Dockers or Eagles will have to pay a premium in the trade, for Hogan, otherwise Melbourne will keep him.
Hogan would be a perfect replacement for retired skipper Matthew Pavlich, as Cameron McCarthy continues to battle modest form.
But even if the Dockers consider handing over picks No. 4 and No. 5 for him, they would certainly ask for at least one pick back from Melbourne in return to lessen the damage.
West Coast could also entertain a move for Hogan to secure the long-term replacement for Coleman Medalist and veteran premiership hero Josh Kennedy, 31.
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