Hogan gives Dees boost

Coach tips forward’s return is ‘very close’

MELBOURNE forward Jesse Hogan must get through “a few big sessions” before he is given the green light to play.

Demons coach Simon Goodwin said yesterday Hogan was close to a longawaited return to football after successful surgery in May to treat testicular cancer.

The 22-year-old trained with the main group at Gosch’s Paddock but was ruled out of tomorrow night’s clash against Sydney at the MCG.

“It’s good to have Jesse doing some full training and back into it,” Goodwin said.

“He’s been doing a hell of a lot of work the last couple of weeks, he’s getting very close. He’s getting very eager to start playing soon.

“He’s got a few big sessions to come, six or seven days, he’s tracking along really well.

“We’re encouraged by how he’s progressing so he’s not too far away.”

Hogan has not played since Round 7.

The Demons, chasing a fourth win in a row, will tonight unveil three forced changes to the side that defeated West Coast in an epic clash at Subiaco last week.

Goodwin ruled out Jeff Garlett and Christian Salem after both were injured in last Saturday night’s thrilling win, while Jack Watts will miss for a second week. Each has a hamstring problem.

Watts and Garlett will be assessed next week, the fifthplaced Demons not willing to risk the duo after consecutive six-day breaks.

“He’s [Watts] still a little sore in his hamstring so we’re just treating that the way we should do over these short breaks,” Goodwin said.

“We haven’t ruled him [Watts] out [for next week].

“He can certainly run up to a reasonable speed but he just can’t quite hit top pace . . . when that time comes, that’s when he’ll be available.”

The spate of soft tissue injuries at Melbourne, including co-captain Nathan Jones (quad), opens the selection door for in-form Casey Demons Jay KennedyHarris, Josh Wagner, Ben Kennedy, Mitch White and Dean Kent.

Clayton Oliver is expected to play following the knock to his jaw by West Coast’s Will Schofield. ROUND 15 AFL TEAMS, in tomorrow’s Mercury