Melbourne’s Jesse Hogan says the death of his father and his own cancer battle have given him a fresh lease on life

JESSE Hogan always thought of himself as being pretty lucky. He had never lost a family member or had any major health problems. But all that changed during a horror 2017. How did he get through it?

MELBOURNE spearhead Jesse Hogan says he is ready to bounce back from the toughest year of his life and help break the club’s finals drought this season.

The full-forward had surgery for testicular cancer in May, two months after his ­father, Tony, died after his own cancer battle.

The heavy toll impacted Hogan’s form on the field with the 23-year-old booting 20 goals from 10 games as the Demons missed finals on percentage.

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But the hulking forward said a complete preseason had put him in the best shape of his 51-game career, heading into Sunday’s blockbuster season-opener against Geelong.

“I have really put a lot of time into my body over the preseason and I really want to go to the next level and become a stand-out forward in the game,” Hogan said.

“It’s been nice to not worry about anything injury-wise and put time into all facets of my game. Being able to become more of a complete player is what’s been in the back of my mind.”

Jesse Hogan is ready for a huge 2018. Picture: Michael Klein

The West Australian said he was grateful for Melbourne’s support through his personal hardships last season and revealed the experiences had given him a fresh look on life.

“Reflecting on it now is still pretty tough, even though I’ve come out the other side,” he said.

“Obviously we have got such good people around in the footy clubs these days you wouldn’t want to be anywhere else when you go through something like that.

“But for me I guess it just puts life into perspective.

“I hadn’t had any issues in my life and I hadn’t lost a family member so it was pretty heavy (losing his father) and then having my own (health scare).

“You realise it can happen to anyone and it sought of teaches you to zoom out on footy.

“But it is very easy to take your job for granted as an AFL player and to get complacent but I just want to make the most of every minute.”

Hogan spoke to the Herald Sun on Monday as Melbourne revealed luxury car manufacturer Infiniti had signed a seven-figure sponsorship deal.

It adds to the significant on and off-field momentum surrounding Melbourne with the club in arguably its best position since John Northey led the Dees to five-straight top-four finishes in 1987-1991.

Hogan said the club had made huge progress since he arrived at its lowest ebb.

“My first year 2013 most Melbourne supporters would say we bombed out to the worst we have been,” Hogan said.

“I had three coaches in my first year and we have turned over more players than any other team in that five year-period, so we have come a fair way.

“We didn’t make finals last year so we can’t say we are there yet but if you look at the list we’ve got and talent we’ve got and with Simon Goodwin (as coach) it’s a super exciting time.”

Hogan said he was also keen to develop a midfield edge to his game and venture inside the centre square for periods this year.

“It’s been good fun to go in there at training,” he said.

“It’s not too different to contested marking, because you are one on one at the stoppage and the key backs are a bit bigger than the mids.

“But it’s nice to play somewhere around the ground because you get a different look at the game.”

Big man Tom McDonald has also moved from defence into attack, but remains in doubt to take on the Cats at the MCG on Sunday because of a foot problem.

Tom McDonald is in doubt to play Round 1. Picture: Getty Images

Hogan said the Demons welcomed the higher expectations this season and were desperate to make September for the first time in 12 years.

“The fashion we went out in last year was extremely disappointing and that flame has burned in our bellies all preseason and it’s clearly in the back of everyone’s minds,” he said.

“So if we miss finals we would be very disappointed I don’t think there is any other way to look at it.”