No link to Hogan injury: coach

MELBOURNE coach Simon Goodwin says Jesse Hogan’s season-ending foot injury isn’t related to a series of foot problems that have hampered the Demons this year.

Hogan was this week ruled out for the season after scans revealed a small stress fracture in the navicular bone following the loss to Sydney.

Co-captain Jack Viney has only managed seven games this season because of persistent foot problems and is currently sidelined with early signs of bone stress in his toe.

Billy Stretch (toe) is also out for the remainder of 2018, while swingman Tom McDonald had similar issues early in the season.

While the club said earlier in the season it would assess training loads and programs due to the spate of injuries, Goodwin said he wanted to make it clear that Hogan’s injury was different.

“We need to really knock that one on the head,” he said.

“That was a specific incident with Hoges and it had nothing to do with (training) loads.

“He had a specific incident in a game that he was aware of and we assessed it. We got the scans and it obviously came back with a partial, small fracture to his navicular.”

Emerging forward Sam Weideman is set to benefit from the loss of Hogan, with Goodwin saying there would be at least three changes to their side for Sunday’s mustwin clash with West Coast.

Jake Melksham (hamstring) and Michael Hibberd (quad) are also to return for the Perth match.

“Sam’s VFL form has been outstanding so we’ve been working towards getting him to this position to come in and play a key role for us,” Goodwin said of the 21-yearold.

“His form indicates he’s ready for the opportunity.”