Hogan extends deal with Demons

Gun Melbourne forward Jesse Hogan has resisted the temptation to head home, signing a two-year contract extension tying him to the AFL club until the end of 2019.

Despite being contracted for 2017, Hogan had been linked with a return to Perth to play with the Dockers, but the 21-year-old said he didn’t want to leave Melbourne.

The Demons’ leading goal-kicker, Hogan said he was believed the club had a big future under new coach Simon Goodwin that he wanted to be part of.

“Melbourne is where I want to be,” he said in a club statement on Tuesday.

“I really like the city and I’m really excited about what we can do together as a footy club.

“Goody (Simon Goodwin) has been great; we’ve got a really close relationship and I think he is going to be great for me personally next year and the rest of the boys as well.”

Hogan, who won the 2015 AFL Rising Star award, said he was relieved to have his future sorted out so he could focus purely on football next season.

Demons general manager of football Josh Mahoney said Hogan’s contract extension showed his belief in the future of the club.

“We think this decision is strong sign that our player group believes in the future of this club,” Mahoney said.

“Jesse has achieved a lot in his first 41 games of football; he is a competitive character who wants to achieve much more individually and as a team.”

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