And this from Mathew Richardson
Jesse Hogan’s chances of staying at Fremantle are set to become clearer this week, as AFL commentator Matthew Richardson warned the Dockersrisked handing a rival club a “real weapon”.
The West Australian understands the Dockers will meet Hogan’s management this week ahead of the trade period kick-off a week tomorrow.
The 25-year-old has one season remaining on his contract but has attracted some interest from Sydney after an unsuccessful two years at Fremantle.
He has yet to be presented with a concrete offer from another club, and the Dockers are adamant they have not shopped him around.
Speaking to The Hard Ball Gets AFL Show podcast, Richmond legend Richardson said he felt like all signs pointed to Hogan being moved on during the trade period.
“I think he’ll be somewhere else. I just feel it hasn’t quite worked and it sounds like they’re happy to shop him around and there will be some takers there,” he said.
“I know there’s been some issues for Jesse and some injuries but he’s still young, a key forward and shown he can kick 50 goals. If he can get the right environment for him and get up and running he can still be a real weapon so I think there’ll be plenty of interest.”
Hogan found some form in the final rounds of the season, kicking four goals against North Melbourne in round 17, but ran into legal trouble on his return to Perth after a quarantine breach.
Sydney are understood to have reached out to Hogan and are desperate for more tall options inside 50, with doubt over Lance Franklin’s ability to throw off persistent hamstring injuries. Swans key forward Tom McCartin now looks more suited to key defence, while intercept marker Aliir Aliir has been offered a four-year deal at Port Adelaide.
As reported by The West Australian, Geelong first-round pick Jordan Clark looks unlikely to be tempted home to WA, with a two-year contract making a move difficult. The Dockers hold selection 10 in the national draft and have an interest in securing Clark, but it would need to be an exceptional deal for the Cats to consider letting him go.
Clark was frustrated with the lack of opportunities in the back line this year as the Cats marched all the way to a grand final, but with Geelong’s key backs looking top-heavy in the decider and lacking dare with their kicking, he shapes as a natural solution if he can find a spot in the tea