Former West Coast Eagles say Jesse Hogan should consider whether a move to Fremantle would inflame his back problems

JESSE Hogan should consider whether a move to Fremantle would inflame his back problems and cut short his career, say two former West Coast stars.

Fremantle is circling Melbourne star Jesse Hogan. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

JESSE Hogan should consider whether a move to Fremantle would inflame his troublesome back problems and cut short his career, according to two former West Coast stars.

Glen Jakovich and Scott Cummings said there was no doubt the regular eight-hour round trip from Perth to the east coast had a significant impact on players’ bodies.

Hogan, who is being chased by Fremantle, missed a full season with stress fractures in his back in 2014.

The Herald Sun believes Hogan wants to stay at Melbourne.

Cummings said his back was “now shot” and believed that the constant flying curtailed careers.

“There’s no doubt that flying takes its toll and if he (Hogan) is looking at a 10-year deal, it is a big risk,” Cummings said.

“It can definitely take years off your career, whether it is 20 games or 40 games or whatever it is hard to assess.

“But 10 years is a long time to be flying backwards and forwards across the country every two weeks and it would have an impact on his body.

“I had three years at West Coast and two at Port Adelaide and my back is now shot. It is stuffed.

“If I don’t fly business I’m very stiff and sore when I get off the plane.

“It is definitely something Jesse would have to weigh up and he would probably have to have written into his deal (at Fremantle) that he only flies business, because he would have to.”

Jakovich said Fremantle had to go all-out to sign Hogan, 21, and homesick Greater Western Sydney goalkicker Cam McCarthy, 21, “because they are two players who they could build a premiership around”.

Brisbane champion Jonathan Brown this week suggested the Fremantle offer for Hogan would be in the vicinity of $15 million over 10 years.

“They have got to go very hard for him,” Jakovich said.

Melbourne forward Jesse Hogan is being chased by Fremantle. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

But the dual premiership Eagle agreed that “sitting on the plane for eight hours every second week, when you are playing the most brutal game in the world, is not going to be good for you”.

“I think it probably stopped me from playing 300 games,” the 272-gamer said.

“I started at the same time as the Anthony Koutoufides and Gavin Wanganeen’s and they played an extra year or two more than me.”

Fremantle champion Matthew Pavlich has defied the travel factor to play 342 games, but will miss the Dockers’ trip to play Hawthorn in Launceston.

Melbourne remains extremely confident it will keep Hogan — last year’s Rising Star winner — beyond next season, despite a potential Godfather offer from the Dockers.

Jakovich said the prospects of success were also bright at Melbourne, believing the Dees had the talent to achieve the ultimate.

“I had a lot of their young players as part of the AFL academy and I think they have the makings of a premiership,” he told the Herald Sun.

“Angus Brayshaw, Christian Petracca, Jack Viney and Christian Salem, I know these young players and they are going to be stars.

“They’re good people and they will continue to grow and develop together and there is some great upside there.

“But in terms of Fremantle, there is no place like home and their new facilities will be state of the art.”