Jesse Hogan on his move into the midfield and the changing role of the key forward in today’s AFL

MELBOURNE star Jesse Hogan admits he was stunned when he looked at the scoreboard and saw 12 disposals next to his name but the Demons forward is playing down his new midfield role.

Jesse Hogan celebrates a goal. Picture: Michael Klein

JESSE Hogan couldn’t quite catch Nick Riewoldt’s eye.

As they mingled at this year’s Fox Footy launch, Hogan hoped to have a word with the St Kilda champion.

Hogan had just started reading Riewoldt’s book and had grown up idolising his phenomenal workrate.

BIG YEAR: HOGAN MOVES ON AFTER HORROR 2017

EXPECT: LEVER WILL BE A SUPER PLAYER: WHITE

COACH: DEMONS HAVE TO EARN TRUST: GOODWIN

“He was an absolute machine,” Hogan gushed.

“The first player to average 12 marks a game, I think he was leading the all-time marks, that’s pretty much the epitome of a key forward’s workrate.”

Hogan was correct. Last year Riewoldt overtook Brownlow Medallist Gary Dempsey’s record of 2906 marks and ended his career with 2944, although he averaged 8.8 per match.

Jesse Hogan celebrates a goal. Picture: Michael Klein

And Hogan’s admiration was important, because Melbourne has midfield hopes for its hulking spearhead.

He is still the Demons’ goalkicking colossus, but Hogan is now a “rarely leave home key forward” rather than a “stay at home key forward”. He’ll keep his front door keys with him at all times.

Against Hawthorn last week, Hogan slipped up the ground early to record 12 disposals in the first quarter.

“I’ve never done that before,” Hogan told the Herald Sun.

“I just happened to see the MCG scoreboard at quarter-time and it had me on 12 — you wouldn’t read about it.

“But I actually haven’t spent too much time there (in the midfield) since Round 2, considering we’ve gone with a smaller forward line. I’ll go there maybe once a quarter or once a half.”

Jesse Hogan in action against Hawthorn.

At the start of the season, Demons coach Simon Goodwin gave Hogan and Christian Petracca a special licence to play as deep forwards.

“If (Petracca) was to do that, then I was able to go into the midfield for one or two minutes and then go to the bench,” Hogan said.

“That was a bit of a cycle that would happen maybe once a quarter.

“Or maybe Clayton Oliver would go deep and play that role to have a bit of a rest, but keep him on the ground, because they’re such good one-on-one players.

“That was kind of what we were running with. I hope I haven’t given away our game plan just there — it’s pretty obvious.”

After Round 4 Hogan was averaging 22 disposals (No.1 of any key forward), 2.8 groundballs (No.1 of any key forward) inside 50m and eight score involvements (No.3 of any key forward).

The role tweak required a slight body transformation. There were more leg days in the gym last summer and while Hogan is about 1kg heavier, he is feeling healthier.

“I’ve been able to recover after games and feel fresh coming into the next week and then been able to train and develop my craft week to week,” Hogan said.

Jesse Hogan in action against Geelong.

“That’s something I probably haven’t been able to do in recent years. I’d not break down, but I’d kind of get sore after playing four games in a row and really kind of need a quieter week.

“Now I’m a bit more mature and my body is allowing me to do a bit more.

“As a developing young key forward, not that I’m that young anymore, I’ve naturally still got to get a bit stronger and cover a bit more ground which is what the game is demanding at the moment.

“That one-dimensional key forward role has kind of died off.”

The fiercest physical test starts on Anzac Day eve when the Demons play the first of three games in just 13 days.

Last year Hogan was presented with one of the fiercest mental tests any footballer has faced.

Hogan underwent surgery for testicular cancer two months after his father, Tony, died of his own cancer battle.

“Initially it was pretty tough trying to transition back to football. I didn’t quite find the balance,” Hogan, 23, said.

Melbourne young guns Christian Petracca, Jake Lever and Jesse Hogan. Picture: Michael Klein

“My focus wasn’t really on performing and I kind of had a few other things going on that was really tough.

“Things happen and you adapt and you learn, so it was obviously tough. But you come out the other end of it with a bit more resilience and a bit more maturity.

“It’s hard to say that you’re proud of yourself. I don’t think proud is the word, I think it’s kind of … you don’t really have any other choice, you’ve just got to handle whatever gets thrown at you.

“Even now it’s still pretty hard to reflect on.

“I’ve had good people around me and I’m thankful for that because without them it’s pretty easy to go to a dark place and not come out.”

Hogan’s family and Goodwin helped guide him through the turbulence. Hogan remains close to brother Jake, who is 12 years older.

Jake is set to fly in from Perth to watch the Demons’ next two matches and has long enjoyed surfing with Jesse.

Catching waves with captain Nathan Jones and James Harmes helps Hogan keep busy and he simply enjoys escaping the “hustle and bustle” of Melbourne.

The spearhead is living alone in South Yarra — delisted teammate Ben Kennedy had to move out for work — and Hogan loves the proximity to the club.

He said it was way too early to contemplate contract negotiations with his current deal set to expire in 2019.

Angus Brayshaw and Jesse Hogan at Melbourne training.

“The noise is just part of the game these days,” Hogan said.

“It’s still 18 months away so it’s probably the last thing on my mind at the moment. When I was a bit younger there was one AFL footy show that was on every Thursday night.

“Now Fox Footy’s got a channel that has about seven dedicated shows and every channel on free-to-air has (shows) and the noise gets louder and louder.”

Hogan’s fourth AFL game was the inaugural Anzac eve clash against Richmond and he kicked two goals on Alex Rance and took three contested marks.

But Hogan said Rance and the Tigers have “absolutely” taken the points against him and he wants to respond at the MCG, whether he gets Rance or David Astbury.

The measure won’t be recording 12 disposals in the first quarter.

“As a key forward it’s kind of getting to as many contests as you can and competing and bringing the ball to ground,” Hogan said.

That’s where part of his love for Riewoldt comes from.

“I always kind of modelled my game on Nick Riewoldt types. He didn’t play too much midfield, but he did play a bit of wing later in his career.

“He worked really hard and got to as many contests as he could.”

LIVE stream every match of every round of the 2018 Toyota AFL Premiership Season on FOX SPORTS. Get your free 2-week trial & start watching in minutes. SIGN UP NOW