Bang Bang Bang

That's too small a sample size and probably the worst Dom has ever played at AFL level. Some (including myself, I think) got caught up in the emotion and suggested he be dropped after that performance. Looking at the larger sample size, he's not a brilliant kick but it's good enough for the role he plays. He can kick up to 60m too. His hands are very good.

After a mediocre 2015 and slow start to this season, there were some doubts over whether his debut year was a flash in the pan. Fortunately, he ended up matching that season if not bettering it, especially with some superb form in the back half of the year. Will be 24 next year and itching closer to 100 games. Freshly re-signed, he should be aiming for AA honours before his next contract is up.

For those already stressing about 2019, here are some very encouraging quotes from Hogan in Jon Ralph's latest piece.

Huge news. I'll admit it, I was worried when contract talks were 'put off' until the end of the year, and was even more worried when his manager came out and said what he said a few weeks back. After the long drawn out inevitably of Scully, Frawley and Howe leaving us, it felt like Hoges would be next. There's hope for us yet. BTW didn't Barrett say YESTERDAY that a deal was still miles off? Well done, [censored].

Can we go back to the days of having two Hogan threads? One for his contract and another for all other Hogan (or should that be Boyd) stuff. The other thread was called "The Incredible Hulk: Jesse Hogan" but has disappeared into oblivion. Would make things easier for those that come into this thread with no interest in reading through inane debates and are just anxious about Hogan re-signing or being traded soon. I can't be the only one in that boat.

This guy gets it

What's funny about that is Steven Stretch has made a comment under it. He reckons, if he was a betting man, Hogan on a long term deal is a lock. Doubt he'd know too much about it though.

Credits in the bank, well done mate. I'm a bit worried at Goodwin raiding his old club for everyone and everything (remember Neeld?) but by all accounts Egan is a good get.

There's no way he'd go from 'weighing up his future' to having his name signed on the dotted line within 1-2 weeks. The fact this chick has got another rumour wrong in the past doesn't help either. I'd like to believe it but I don't. What does old mate who knew we were drafting Wagner and Weideman's debut a week out think?

Interesting that Oliver has polled in two out of eight games already. The umps must love his crazy hands in congestion as much as us. The media haven't caught on as quick... yet.

Thought his first half of the year was very good. Games against GWS, Essendon, Gold Coast (the first time), Collingwood (both times) were very impressive. Seemed to fall out of favour very quickly after that, not sure why, I reckon he's best 22 but the coaches obviously see him in the 20-30 range. Fans seemed to have jumped off him very quickly. We're not going to be trading him away for peanuts after one season. There also seems to be this misconception that it was a straight swap for Howe. It wasn't at all. pick 29 was the key to the Howe trade because it allowed us to swap picks around with the Gold Coast, one of which secured us Oliver (the Suns got Ah Chee, I know who I'd prefer). It's like saying Adelaide got Dean Gore for Dangerfield. Just thought I'd clear that up.

Unlike some of you guys, I reckon the list managers would use more than 30 minutes of bad football to make their decisions going forward. These same guys are the ones who got Casey to a GF in the first place. Admittedly this kind of fade out is all too familiar.

Gotta love the Doggies. Personally I think we've got a long way to go to matching them. Sure they didn't win every week in 2016 but one thing they did give every week was 100% effort. No way this mob would have dropped games against Essendon, Carlton the way we did. They are a credit to themselves. We have a lot to learn from them.

I wanted Sydney to win last night but it was kinda depressing watching that. Just how far away are we from winning a flag? I've seen us play hundreds of times at the MCG, for some magnificent wins, but I've never seen us play with the intensity the Swans brought last night. They were unbelievable.

I lean the other way. He'll cost nothing and make us a better side. He could be the difference between making and missing the 8, that's how tight spots will be. Yes it might not lead to a premiership but what's stopping us from having a run like the Bulldogs and building confidence if we did make it? GWS wouldn't even think twice if they had their time again with Stevie J. Yes to Boomer

Jay Clark, who is easily the most reliable breaker of MFC related news, was 98% certain Hogan would stay earlier in the year. His most recent piece is very much 50/50. West Coast interested in poaching Jesse Hogan from Melbourne "But despite the Dees’ strong on-field progress this season and significant salary cap room, Hogan may now wait to consider each team’s direction in the early part of next season before he is prepared to give his contract more consideration." He can seriously [censored] off now if that's what he's planning to do. Auction him off to one of the Perth clubs and end up with early picks + Darling/Weller.

I'm not optimistic after reading his manager's direct quotes.

I give it to three quarter time of Round 1 before someone calls for his head in the gameday thread. Good luck to Goodwin. I liked Roos and there's no doubt he did exactly what he said he'd do, but at the same time it will be good to have a coach that's fresh and fully committed to the cause. No guarantees he'll be a successful coach, but at least we can be sure he won't barge in and [censored] the place up like Neeld did in 11/12.

I will preface this by saying that YES I didn't want O'Meara but this whole business of 'nominating' destination clubs must be of serious concern to the head honchos at AFL house. Hawthorn will have to trade for him, sure, but it will be at a discounted rate. Only two clubs in recent history have tried the "[censored] you" attitude that Gold Coast are bluffing about presently. 1. Was St. Kilda with Luke Ball and 2. GWS with McCarthy. Both sides it backfired and would do things differently if they had their time again. People will say Hawthorn are on the way down but weren't we saying the same about Geelong last year? Nek minnit, they signed a raft of good players who 'nominated' them for next to nothing and here they are again the top of the ladder. I predict the same will happen to Hawthorn.

Mate give it a rest. Most people come onto this thread wanting to read news, updates and opinions related to Jesse Hogan. At the moment only about 10% of the posts in here are actually related to that. We're not interested in you playing Judge Judy. Who gives a [censored] if people believe GNF or not? It's their choice. At least GNF is sticking to the topic. By the way, I saw a rumour referencing a Freo board member a few pages back but can't find the original post? Anyone got it? My gut feeling now is that he might be gone. I can't find the footage anymore but when he was the Juventus exhibition he was asked about his contract. The way he looked down and made no real reference to staying with Melbourne in his answer made me feel a bit uneasy. Just my opinion, as the media outlets actually reported it the other way afterwards.

For those that have no interest in anonymous keyboard warriors trading schoolyard insults, what are the latest rumours on Hogan? One player thinks he's going, anything else since the B&F?

Great effort by Hunt to nearly crack the top 10 in his first season. I'm not surprised Viney won. He'd be a coaches' dream. Will win 4-5 by the end of his career at this rate.

Good. How often do severely injury-prone players actually come back and play long, meaningful careers? Cases like Menzel are as rare as hen's teeth (and he still could break down again). I'd be reluctant to give a first round pick for him let alone two. Let's not trade away the farm for a gun unless it's absolutely necessary. We improved this year on the back of a trade period that netted mediocre Bugg, Kennedy and a few draft picks. How did Collngwood go after getting Treloar and Aish?

Geelong has the best deal out of any of the clubs. 8 games a year at Skilled against minnow/rubbish sides, tricky conditions for away sides to deal with and 95% Geelong fans, then they have another handful down the road in Melbourne where they still have a massive supporter base (normally equal or more than the home side). They're a good club with a winning culture but their stadium deal is one of the key reasons they haven't finished lower than 12th since the AFL was introduced. [censored] them.

Viney's had too many quiet games since Port in Alice Springs to be a chance. He's had a good year, but to make the AA squad as a midfielder you have to be a rung higher than what Viney has produced. Remember there's about 100 regular midfielders competition wide and only about 7-8 can make it.