YOUNG-gun Jesse Hogan says he’s not putting any expectations or pressure on his upcoming season, as the football fraternity waits with excitement about his ensuing AFL debut in 2015.
Hogan, who played one NAB Challenge match and a VFL game in 2014, due to a back injury, is making strong progress this pre-season.
“I’m just trying to make sure I can do everything right with my body now and I’ve just got to keep ticking off weeks and then before you know it, the games will come,” he told Dee TV on day eight of Melbourne’s pre-season camp in Maroochydore.
“The body’s still feeling good … so I’m trying to get the best base possible and give myself maximum opportunity to play AFL football.”
Hogan said he had stepped up his volume and workload in recent times.
“I’ve been pretty monitored still, but I’m very excited because I did the whole ‘four quarter’ training [program last week],” he said.
“I’ve been pretty monitored with my back and they’ve been cautious, but it’s going really well. I’ve run some good times and some PBs (personal bests), and I’m putting together back to back weeks and I haven’t been too restricted.
“Hopefully I can continue this into the season.”
Reflecting on the camp so far, Hogan said he was tackling the camp head on and making the most of it.
“[The first week of the camp] was good. I’ve never been here [to Mooroochydore] before, so it’s new conditions for me. [It wasn’t] so much the heat, but the humidity that really got the better of me,” he said.
“After the first session, you get used to it and a few of the boys bring a second shirt to wear [at training]. I really enjoyed the first week. It’s different for me, but the boys have adjusted and we’re looking forward to the [rest of the] second week.”
Hogan said one of the most enjoyable aspects of the camp was spending greater time with his teammates.
“It’s one of the first camps we’ve done for this long. Being in a room with four different boys you don’t spend so much time with is really important [because you] build relationships,” he said.
“No matter if it’s a first year boy [sharing an apartment] with Crossy (Daniel Cross) … one of my main focuses has been to make new relationships.
“But we’re trying to maximise every session and if we can get as much out of this camp and catch up or get ahead of any other club – that’s the main goal.”
