Jesse Hogan firms as Rising Star contender after kicking four goals against North Melbourne

PAUL Roos has lashed the continuing negative coverage of the AFL’s game style as Jesse Hogan hit back in the race for the Rising Star award.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 09: Jesse Hogan of the Demons celebrates after kicking a goal during the round 19 AFL match between the Melbourne Demons and the North Melbourne Kangaroos at Melbourne Cricket Ground on August 9, 2015 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

PAUL Roos has lashed the continuing negative coverage of the AFL’s game style as Jesse Hogan hit back in the race for the Rising Star award.

The Demons didn’t give a yelp in a horror first quarter, but fought until the last ten minutes in a respectable 35-point loss to North Melbourne.

A day after Patrick Cripps dominated at the MCG, Rising Star contender Hogan hauled in nine marks (three contested) among a dynamic four-goal haul.

Roos admitted he would be “stiff to get pipped”, with Cripps ($1.85 favourite) and Hogan ($1.95) pushing away from the chasing pack that has West Coast’s Dom Sheed ($21) the next best contender.

But despite both sides combining for 54 scoring shots and 33 goals, the Melbourne coach said too many people were talking down the game of AFL.

He does not believe implementing congestion-busting rules is a priority despite many ugly games full of scrimmages this year.

“I am sick of the headlines about how bad the game is. I think it’s a disgrace the way we attack the game as an industry. I am sick of hearing about it,’’ he said.

“I love the game and I wish more people would be positive about it. Every week the game is played with the same book.

“There are young teams, expansion and there are a thousand different reasons other than going back to the well and changing the rules again.

“There will be bad games, ladies and gentleman. That is going to happen. When was that article during the week they showed — 1911. They were talking about congestion around the ball.

“So when we are dead and buried they will still be talking about it.”

While Melbourne’s top-three selection Angus Brayshaw is tiring after only eight touches, Hogan goes from strength to strength.

Roos would say only that he would be unlucky to lose, aware of Cripps’ credentials after 35 possessions and 11 clearances (six in the last-quarter) against Collingwood.

The AFL has clarified that two players can tie for the Rising Star award, which sees judges voting under a 5-4-3-2-1 method.

“I don’t want to create a headline. We don’t see all the other guys often enough. But as a centre half forward, he is 19, how many goals as he got (36), and four today — he would be stiff to get pipped.

“I don’t want to dismiss Patrick’s effort and Touk Miller has had a great year. He would be stiff but there might be some other guys because I haven’t seen them all.”

He said a decision on another contract for ex-Bulldog Daniel Cross would be made later in the season, but it would surprise if the 32-year-old did not continue.

Jeremy Howe badly rolled his ankle but Roos expects him to play against the Western Bulldogs next Sunday after he made a solid return.

“He rolled his ankle and got it re-strapped. He looked OK, he played a pretty productive game and carried the injury well.”

Originally published as Jesse Hogan firms as Rising Star contender after kicking four goals against North Melbourne