Coleman coup: How GWS Giants picked up leading goalkicker Jesse Hogan for peanuts

In 2020, GWS took a punt on bringing maligned Fremantle swingman Jesse Hogan to Sydney. SAM LANDSBERGER reports picking him up for just pick 56 is proving an absolute steal.

Jesse Hogan is on track to be the cheapest Coleman Medallist of his generation in a feat that would deny Charlie Curnow becoming the first player since Gary Ablett Sr from winning three consecutive awards.

Greater Western Sydney’s bargain buy accepted a reduced salary when he crossed from Fremantle at the end of 2020 and Hogan immediately impressed by joining pre-season early with the club’s first-to-fourth year players.

The Dockers poached Hogan to help replace Matthew Pavlich, but instead the hulking forward has helped fill the giant shoes of Jeremy Cameron (traded to Geelong).

On Saturday Hogan could go a long way to finishing Fremantle’s season as he enters in the form of his life, kicking 28.3 from his past eight games.

Since midway through 2016 Hogan’s clubs are 22-2 when he kicks more than three goals.

The 2015 Rising Star winner has never been All-Australian and has not even won a club goalkicking award since 2016 at the Dees.

Hogan is finally dominating in the vein VFL watchers expected he would when the 17-year-old won Casey’s best-and-fairest 11 years ago.

Jesse Hogan at Gosch's Paddock in, 2015. Picture: Hamish Blair

Max Gawn in 2016. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images.

A young ruckman named Max Gawn placed third that season and won the VFL gong in 2014.

The Dockers trialled Hogan as a defender and effectively sacked him after two seasons marred by injuries and off-field issues.

The key plank in the trade that lured the West Australian back to Perth was pick No. 6 – which Melbourne dealt to Gold Coast for Steven May, and the Suns then used to draft spearhead Ben King.

But the Giants got Hogan for effectively nothing in what was a calculated risk after a series of Zoom meetings during Covid with then-coach Leon Cameron and football boss Jason McCartney.

It’s understood other clubs including Sydney and Richmond did some due diligence on Hogan when it became apparent that Fremantle wanted him out.

Jesse Hogan in Dockers colours. Picture: Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images.

Hogan, 29, knew little about Sydney when the trade was sealed and he spent time living with Shane Mumford.

He spent time there for an under-16 carnival, but had remarkably only played one AFL matches in the state before joining GWS.

The only Giant he knew was Josh Kelly from their AIS days as teenagers.

The surfing tragic has recently become a chess master and spends hours playing on his phone each week.

Jesse Hogan has led the Giants’ forward line. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Re-signed Docker Josh Draper is likely to man Hogan at Engie Stadium with captain Alex Pearce injured.

Hogan’s 85 marks inside 50m ranks No. 1 in the AFL (ahead of King’s 60, Jake Waterman’s 58 and Curnow’s 54).

Regarded by Matthew Lloyd as the No. 1 contested mark in the game, Hogan’s one-on-one win rate of 50 per cent ranks No. 2 of all time (minimum 45 contests).

Only Dustin Martin’s unstoppable 2017 campaign produced better results (won 52 per cent).

Jesse Hogan is in the box seat to claim his first Coleman Medal. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images.

A phonecall from Stephen Coniglio during the 2020 trade period helped sell the Giants’ vision to Hogan and his form was rewarded with a contract extension through to 2026 and a well-deserved pay rise this year.

But his 2024 deal remains a bargain for a player that has kicked 69.19 and leads the injured Curnow by four goals.

If Hogan collects a maiden Coleman Medal he would then be shooting to become just the fourth player to couple that with a premiership in the same season.

Matthew Lloyd (2000), Buddy Franklin (2008) and Jarryd Roughead (2013) are the others.

Hogan is now mentoring No. 1 pick Aaron Cadman, who enjoyed a breakout last quarter against Brisbane last week and has impressed Hogan by getting to more contests and keeping his feet.

Hogan’s resurrection – he has gone from riches to rags to riches – has been one of the stories of the season with his Josh Kennedy-style stuttering run-up proving preceding the most accurate kick for goal in the game.

The mature star has played every game this season after missing multiple pre-seasons, predominantly due to foot injuries, before joining GWS.

Originally published as Coleman coup: How GWS Giants picked up leading goalkicker Jesse Hogan for peanuts