Jesse Hogan has re-signed with Melbourne on a two-year contract extension

MELBOURNE star Jesse Hogan has resisted the lure of a possible return home to Western Australia, but two other key-position Demons could be on the move.

Jesse Hogan celebrates a goal for Melbourne.

MELBOURNE forward Jesse Hogan has resisted the lure of a possible return home to Western Australia and signed a two-year extension at the Demons.

Hogan, 21, last night agreed to the new deal that locks him to the club until the end of 2019.

“Melbourne is where I want to be. I really like the city and I’m really excited about what we can do together as a footy club,” he said.

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“What excites me about Melbourne is the young talent we’ve got. We feel like we are building something special and that’s something I want to be a part of.

“Goody (Simon Goodwin) has been great; we’ve got a really close relationship and I think he is going to be great for me personally next year and the rest of the boys as well.

“I didn’t really want all the speculation out there, so there is a bit of relief now that we’ve got it done and I can just focus on being a footballer again.”

Jesse Hogan will remain a Demon until the end of 2019. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

Hogan had been linked during the year to both West Australian clubs for a move as early as next season to be closer to family and friends.

Melbourne football manager Josh Mahoney admitted he had some nervous moments during the year but he always believed Hogan would re-sign.

“We had ongoing dialogue with Jesse’s management throughout the year and while there was always going to be a lot of supporter and media attention on the renegotiation, we believe in what we are trying to achieve at the club and felt that Jesse would want to be part of it.

“At times you do try to read some body language — is he staying or is he going? — everyone at the club feels that at different stages, but all we can go by is every chat that we’d had with Jesse was always positive. We just thought that he was going to sign at some point.

“To put it off for the whole year was a big call by his management group and us but we think it’s worked out pretty well in the end.”

The 2015 Rising Star has kicked 85 goals in 41 games for Melbourne.

But Mahoney said that two other key-position players may not be at the club next year.

There is no contract on the table for Chris Dawes while Lynden Dunn could be headed to the Brisbane Lions.

“We’ve had chats to Dunny and he was obviously disappointed with a lack of opportunity this year,” he told Trade Radio.

“His management came to us and said he wants to play senior footy and look at opportunities, and we’re supportive of that. If something happens through the trade period, we’ll wait and see.”

Mahoney said Melbourne’s pick 26 would be “around the mark” for a deal to get Michael Hibberd from Essendon.

“Hopefully (that deal) is a pretty straightforward one for us.”

Originally published as Jesse Hogan has re-signed with Melbourne on a two-year contract extension