Like your spirit Maggot. Hope you've booked your flight to Perth for the big game.

As to the five hour flight, it's simply not the ideal way for someone who has had a back injury to attempt his comeback after not playing any football for 6 months.

I'd try not to worry about it Jack, But you may want to just let the medical staff know in case they don't realise.

That should put your mind at rest.

If he is fully fit and there is no possible risk of injury then give him a game. It will get the debut nerves out of the way for the entire pre season plus give him a taste of what it's like to play in the Seniors so he can carry that into the preseason as motivation. I think it makes a lot of sense to get that game out of the way. It will also be more low key at the end of this season as our season is done and dusted whereas it will be surrounded in pre game hype next year with everyone optimistic for the season until half time of the first game.

They did the same thing for Grimes giving him his debut in the last game of the season and he said it gave him great motivation over the pre season to have tasted it.

So, he will never play then, on that criterion.

I'd try not to worry about it Jack, But you may want to just let the medical staff know in case they don't realise.

That should put your mind at rest.

Great advice Bob. You wouldn't have their names, phone numbers and email addresses so I can let them know?

Great advice Bob. You wouldn't have their names, phone numbers and email addresses so I can let them know?

No, sorry Jack, I trust their judgement so no need for me to have that info.

No, sorry Jack, I trust their judgement so no need for me to have that info.

Glad you trust their judgement Bob but then there are people around who trust the judgement of faith healers too .

However, on the subject of the judgement of our medical people in relation to Hogan's return date you must admit they have been well ... all over the shop:-

June 18 (6 weeks ago):

"Jesse Hogan (back) – 6 weeks"

July 1 (4 weeks ago):

"Jesse Hogan (back) – 4-6 weeks"

July 9 (3½ weeks ago):

"Jesse Hogan (back) – 3-4 weeks"

July 15 (2½ weeks ago):

"Jesse Hogan (back) – 3-4 weeks"

Two days ago:

"Jesse Hogan (back) – 3-4 weeks"

That doesn't give much comfort upon which to place trust on their judgement but, if the trend shown above continues, it will all be moot.

From a football perspective I believe that even if they now have it right with their 3 - 4 week prognosis then Hogan has run out of time for a proper 2014 return because our last game of the season is four weeks away. It would not only be pointless for him to make his AFL debut in Round 23 without the benefit of a couple of runs at VFL level, it would also be completely inconsistent with everything Paul Roos has said in the past about bringing young players up too early.

Glad you trust their judgement Bob but then there are people around who trust the judgement of faith healers too .

However, on the subject of the judgement of our medical people in relation to Hogan's return date you must admit they have been well ... all over the shop:-

June 18 (6 weeks ago):

"Jesse Hogan (back) – 6 weeks"

July 1 (4 weeks ago):

"Jesse Hogan (back) – 4-6 weeks"

July 9 (3½ weeks ago):

"Jesse Hogan (back) – 3-4 weeks"

July 15 (2½ weeks ago):

"Jesse Hogan (back) – 3-4 weeks"

Two days ago:

"Jesse Hogan (back) – 3-4 weeks"

That doesn't give much comfort upon which to place trust on their judgement but, if the trend shown above continues, it will all be moot.

From a football perspective I believe that even if they now have it right with their 3 - 4 week prognosis then Hogan has run out of time for a proper 2014 return because our last game of the season is four weeks away. It would not only be pointless for him to make his AFL debut in Round 23 without the benefit of a couple of runs at VFL level, it would also be completely inconsistent with everything Paul Roos has said in the past about bringing young players up too early.

Hmmm. Are you suggesting that the MFC medico's are faith healers? That seems a little over the top. But you clearly don't trust them.

I'm not fussed one way or the other if Hogan plays this year or not. My point is that the Club has all the necessary information on which to make a decision and if they say he's fit to play and they want him to play seniors or at Casey that's fine with me. I also don't think we need to be worried about tall players with a history of back injuries making plane trips because I think there is a fair chance the medical staff will be all over that.

The talk on Hogan coming from the club is very frustrating, they are indicating that he's basically out of the rehab group and they say he may play but it's up to him and up to the medicos at the same time. It's getting to the stage where I'd be quite happy for them to just say, "he's a long term prospect and everything we do now is to set him up for 2015, he won't play AFL this year".

I'm sick of the false hope and will he/won't he scenarios. Everyone knows he's a great prospect, while seeing him play would give the fans a bit of hope, I see very little benefit for Jesse.

The talk on Hogan coming from the club is very frustrating, they are indicating that his basically out of the rehab group and they say he may play but it's up to him and up to the medicos at the same time. It's getting to the stage where I'd be quite happy for them to just say, "he's a long term prospect and everything we do know is to set him up for 2015, he won't play AFL this year".

I'm sick of the false hope and will he/won't he scenarios. Everyone knows he's a great prospect, while seeing him play would give the fans a bit of hope, I see very little benefit for Jesse.

Agree.

I went to training for a while this morning. It was awesome to see Hogan in full flight. What a man mountain, a very fast and agile man mountain!!! Think he will make a debut in the last couple of games. I can't wait!

Play him now please

Im 55 I play with hamstring tendonopathy a dodgy knee snd a recent corneal transplant

Yes im a dinosaur - thats my moniker

Harden the [censored] up

Any other reports from training Grand new Flag or Saty ?

Grimes out of 25

Cross in

Hmmm. Are you suggesting that the MFC medico's are faith healers? That seems a little over the top. But you clearly don't trust them.

I'm not fussed one way or the other if Hogan plays this year or not. My point is that the Club has all the necessary information on which to make a decision and if they say he's fit to play and they want him to play seniors or at Casey that's fine with me. I also don't think we need to be worried about tall players with a history of back injuries making plane trips because I think there is a fair chance the medical staff will be all over that.

No, I don't think I suggested that at all. I just said that some people place trust in faith healers.

I trust the medicos to do their job but as you can see their prognostications about Hogan's recuperation have been unreliable. If you're keen to see him out on the park before the end of the year then you should hope that next week he has a 1 - 2 week designation against his name because 3 - 4 weeks won't help. Nor should it.

If you're keen to see him out on the park before the end of the year

Which part of "I'm not fussed one way or the other" is confusing you?

If you let me know I'll try and clarify it for you.

Anyone know what the issue is with Grimes?

Think he hit a target at training and then fainted and then hit his head.

Think he hit a target at training and then fainted and then hit his head.

i'm guessing Roosy fainted for the same reason and is also in doubt? hopefully PJ put a 6 year contract infront of him while he was dazed

I trust the medicos to do their job but as you can see their prognostications about Hogan's recuperation have been unreliable.

Surely such is the nature of medical science and of predicting outcomes? As of yesterday (Thursday), no-one could even say with any certainty if Cross would be ready to play in 4 days time, yet alone looking at what might happen 3-4 weeks down the track with Hogan.

My layman's take on it all is that it's all very well being a boy-mountain, but that's a heck of a load on a still-developing body - Hogan has had a run of (different) injuries since this time last year, and I wonder if he's out of the woods yet.

Glad you trust their judgement Bob but then there are people around who trust the judgement of faith healers too .

However, on the subject of the judgement of our medical people in relation to Hogan's return date you must admit they have been well ... all over the shop:-

June 18 (6 weeks ago):

"Jesse Hogan (back) – 6 weeks"

July 1 (4 weeks ago):

"Jesse Hogan (back) – 4-6 weeks"

July 9 (3½ weeks ago):

"Jesse Hogan (back) – 3-4 weeks"

July 15 (2½ weeks ago):

"Jesse Hogan (back) – 3-4 weeks"

Two days ago:

"Jesse Hogan (back) – 3-4 weeks"

That doesn't give much comfort upon which to place trust on their judgement but, if the trend shown above continues, it will all be moot.

From a football perspective I believe that even if they now have it right with their 3 - 4 week prognosis then Hogan has run out of time for a proper 2014 return because our last game of the season is four weeks away. It would not only be pointless for him to make his AFL debut in Round 23 without the benefit of a couple of runs at VFL level, it would also be completely inconsistent with everything Paul Roos has said in the past about bringing young players up too early.

It's a strange one given he is out of the rehab group and back into full training. Maybe they are saying 3-4 wks to lower expectations and pressure on him to push himself to play when he shouldn't.

So, he will never play then, on that criterion.

Yeh, fair cop. I was thinking that the injury is fully recovered and won't be reinjured just by running out on the ground. Some injuries run that risk no matter what they appear. Think, C Judd earlier this year.

Hogan now listed as 1-4 weeks away.. Interesting if he will play this year.

Melbourne injury list: round 20

Daniel Cross (leg) – available
Jack Grimes (hamstring) – test
Jesse Hogan (back) – 1-4 weeks
Jayden Hunt (back) – 3-4 weeks
Max King (knee) – available
Jake Spencer (foot) – season
Jack Trengove (foot) – season

1-4 weeks so another we are not committing to anything - just happy to dangle it out there.

Have I been brainwashed by Misson?

Hogan's injury update has gone from 1 - 4 weeks to 1 - 3 weeks. Given there are 3 weeks left, is this just a way of saying, no he is not going to play?

I have a mate who, may or may not play for Casey and he reckons Hogan is ripping it up at training.

I just get the feeling if they wanted to play him this year, he has to play for Casey this week or should have played last week?

If he doesn't play this week for Casey, I don't think we'll see him until next year!

If he doesn't play this week for Casey, I don't think we'll see him until next year!

Happy with that. Hogan, Trengove and Toumpas will all come in next year virtually as new recruits before we even start our drafting and trading. I suspect we'll be big improvers next year.

Here's the official injury list for round 21:-

Sam Blease (illness) – available

Jack Grimes (hamstring) – test

Jesse Hogan (back) – 1-3 weeks

Jayden Hunt (back) – season

Cam Pedersen (nose) – available

Jake Spencer (ankle) – season

Luke Tapscott (knee) – test

Jimmy Toumpas (appendix) – test

Jack Trengove (foot) – season

Interesting how little info Misson offered up on Hogan. Sounds like he is completely ready to go, must play at Casey this week... is there any chance of the 1's..?