Jesse Hogan

Recruited by Melbourne via the unique 2012 mini-draft, Jesse Hogan arrived in the AFL with immense expectation as a teenage prodigy capable of solving the Demons' longstanding key forward woes. He delivered on that promise early, winning the 2015 Rising Star award and leading the club's goalkicking in his first two seasons, but his time in Victoria was eventually soured by injury, health scares, and personal tragedy. Seeking a fresh start, Hogan requested a high-profile trade home to Fremantle ahead of the 2019 season, but the move proved disastrous; plagued by foot injuries, mental health challenges, and intense local scrutiny, he managed just 19 games over two years before parting ways with the Dockers.

Hogan was thrown a lifeline by Greater Western Sydney ahead of the 2021 season, a low-risk acquisition that sparked a remarkable career renaissance. At the Giants, he matured into one of the competition's most formidable key forwards, utilising his elite endurance to work high up the ground and his imposing physical strength to dominate aerial contests. This resurgence culminated in a brilliant 2024 campaign where he claimed the Coleman Medal and earned his maiden All-Australian blazer, finally fulfilling his potential as the premier spearhead of the league.