Dees firm up defence

Melbourne farewells Hogan, greets May

MELBOURNE says it still has the weapons to top 100 points in games next season, despite the loss of spearhead Jesse Hogan yesterday.

The Demons made one of the biggest plays of the trade period, farewelling Hogan to help bolster their back line for a genuine shot at next year’s premiership.

In the end, Melbourne refused to cave on its demands for Hogan, acquiring pick No.6 and No.23 from the toughtalking Dockers.

It allowed the Demons to land the prime stopper the back line required when it gave up only No.6 for Steve May and rebounding backman Kade Kolodjahnij from the Suns.

But Melbourne is confident it won’t lack any potency in attack next season as it looks to Sam Weideman, Tom McDonald, Jake Melksham and Chris- tian Petracca to share the load.

Football manager Josh Mahoney said the Demons showed late in the season when Hogan was injured that it could score heavily without him.

“What we have shown is that we get the ball inside-50m quite a bit and even though Jesse missed the last period of time, it was still able to function,” Mahoney said.

“Obviously he is a good player and kicked 47 gals for the year and got injured late.

“But the development of Sam Weideman and Tom McDonald as a forward, they provide two key roles down there and we think we have got enough options to kick goals.

“So that was part of the discussion, we have been able to look at it without Jesse and we have been able to manufacture goals and still kick 100 points without him.”

Mahoney said he understood fans’ disappointment losing Hogan, but said the club would enter next year with greater balance across its list.

“He [Hogan] has been a very good player for us, he has won games off his own boot,” Mahoney said.

“But we said we would try and do the best deal we can and from what we have been able to turn that into, we think they [fans] would look forward to seeing Steven May in our back line.

“He is going to be a real general down there for us and Kade Kolodjashnij gives us more run on the wing, and our recruiting team will go to work with pick No.23.”

May, 26, signed a five-year deal and will immediately join a team in the premiership window after eight years at the Suns without playing a final.

He will take the opposition’s best forward each week, allowing Oscar McDonald and returning interceptor Jake Lever to work off May.