Dees want two first-round picks for Hogan

MELBOURNE star forward Jesse Hogan has passed a medical examination at Fremantle but will not be released unless the Dockers stump up two first-round picks for him.

Speculation that Hogan, 23, had failed medical tests held in Perth last week were last night dismissed, with his camp adamant the spearhead will be fit to play for the Demons or the Dockers in Round 1 next year.

The goalkicker is holidaying in Bali, but was fully assessed by Fremantle medicos during a tour of the Dockers’ headquarters last week.

He is recovering from a stress fracture in his navicular bone and missed Melbourne’s deep run into September.

Melbourne wants Fremantle’s first pick, currently No. 6, as well as another first-round selection for Hogan.

It means the Hogan trade hinges on Fremantle first doing a deal with Brisbane for midfielder Lachie Neale.

That would give the Dockers picks No. 5 and No. 6, one of which they could on-trade to another club, such as Adelaide, for a pair of picks late in the first and second round.

One scenario would see the Dockers on-trade pick No. 6 (worth 1751 points) to the Crows in exchange for selections No. 16 and No. 21 (togeth- er worth 1945 points).

That would allow the Dockers to give picks No. 5 and 16 to Melbourne for Hogan and pass No. 21 to Greater Western Sydney for ruckman Rory Lobb.

The advantage for Adelaide is it moves higher up the draft order and into a position to potentially snare one of the South Australians such as Izak Rankine or Jack Lukosius.

Fremantle is feeling pressure to rise up the ladder next season and has targeted Hogan and Lobb to fill key voids down its spine.

But Melbourne will keep Hogan to his contract next season unless it secures two early picks from Fremantle.

Once a Hogan deal is completed, the Demons will be able to make a move on Gold Coast co-captain and star full-back Steven May. The Suns would almost certainly ask Melbourne for pick No. 5 (via Fremantle) to release May from his contract for next season.