David Schwarz urges Melbourne’s star players to stand up in Jesse Hogan’s absence

MELBOURNE has been urged to employ Christian Petracca as a key attacking target as coach Simon Goodwin’s greatest coaching challenge amid the Demons’ horror injury list.

Christian Petracca could be used up forward to cover the loss of Jesse Hogan. Picture: Getty Images

MELBOURNE has been urged to play a Richmond style one-tall forward line with Christian Petracca as a key attacking target as their horror injury list grows.

Jesse Hogan has been diagnosed with a partial navicular strain and while the six-week injury will not require surgery he has been ruled out for the rest of the season.

He is sixth on the Coleman Medal tally with 47 goals, and will join Jake Lever on the sidelines with co-captain Jack Viney only likely to return from a foot hot spot for the finals at best.

INJURY CURSE: THE UNLUCKIEST PLAYERS IN THE AFL

COSTLY DEFEATS: THE LOSS THAT COST YOUR CLUB MOST

PRIVATE MEETING: GAFF DELIVERS APOLOGY AND FLOWERS

Former Melbourne star David Schwarz said the injury toll was Simon Goodwin’s greatest coaching challenge in his short time at the club, urging him to experiment with his exciting young list.

The Demons could bring in a young tall like Sam Weideman (two goals in the VFL) against West Coast or choose to play 42-goal tall Tom McDonald and a bevy of small forwards.

Christian Petracca has a shot for goal against the Swans on Sunday. Picture: Michael Klein

Schwarz said this could be Goodwin’s finest hour amid fan anger at another wasted chance to seal a finals spot with their loss to Sydney on Sunday.

“This is a good opportunity for Simon Goodwin to show what he can do,” Schwarz said.

“He can mix it up a bit, maybe play a smaller Richmond-style forward line.

“Just have Tom McDonald up there and go small. They have the talent there.

“In big games and finals you get a really good understanding of the character of the list.

“I would be really disappointed if Petracca and Clayton Oliver and Max Gawn don’t take the bit between the teeth and drag their side along.

“I still think we can beat West Coast, we proved that last time when Tom McDonald kicked the winning goal.

“I don’t think it’s the tipping point for their (premiership chances) but when you lose four of your best seven players they can be very difficult to cover.”

Hogan has looked sore for several weeks but suffered a fresh foot injury in the second quarter of the contest against Sydney and played out the game.

The Demons believe he will be back well ahead of the first week of pre-season, adamant he does not need surgery for an injury that at one stage jeopardised the career of James Hird.

Jayden Hunt (ankle) will be out for up to a month with a fresh injury, but Michael Hibberd (quad) and Jake Melksham (hamstring) will return against the Eagles.

Jesse Hogan will miss the rest of the season with a foot injury. Picture: AAP

The Demons might only need one more win to qualify for September but also take on GWS in Round 23.

Hogan is out of contract next year and has often spoke of how settled he has become in Melbourne after moving over from Perth as a teenager.

But after his horror 2017, where he lost his father, suffered testicular cancer and broke his collarbone late in the year, the subject of a contract extension beyond 2019 is yet to be broached.

He said he was buoyed by the fact he did not need surgery.

“It’s just a crack so it’s not disastrous. We caught it pretty early,” Hogan said.

“The pain was hovering so it didn’t crack all the way through thankfully so I won’t require surgery or anything but it’s enough to keep me out for the rest of the season.”

Watch every match of every round of the 2018 Toyota AFL Premiership Season. SIGN UP NOW >