IF JESSE Hogan wins this year’s NAB AFL Rising Star, it will be confirmation of what all in the football community knows.

If he doesn’t win it, he will still remain a rising star.

Hogan has played 16 matches this season for 36 goals. He has also taken an outstanding 114 marks.

Ask the man himself on his chances about winning this year’s top gong for the best emerging player in the competition and he plays down his prospects, but pumps up his native Western Australians.

“I’m not reading into it too much. I’ve heard it’s [between] me, [West Coast’s] Dom Sheed and [Carlton’s] Paddy Cripps, so we’re all Western Australian boys, which I love, so suck that Vics,” he told Dee TV with a smile.

“I’m not looking too much into it, but I think Cripps is killing it and Dom is having a good year as well, so I’m not too fazed to be entirely honest.”

Hogan’s coach Paul Roos said post-match, after Melbourne’s loss to North Melbourne at the MCG on Sunday, that he didn’t want to create a headline, before adding: “But a centre half-forward that's 20 [years old and kicked] four today and [36 goals this year] – he'd be stiff to get pipped.”

“I don't want to dismiss Patrick [Cripps’] effort and [Gold Coast’s] Touk Miller’s had a really good season – I don't get to see them all. But he’d (Hogan) be stiff, but there might be other guys that have had better years because I haven’t seen them.”

“It’s really his first season and then you go into next pre-season, so from a coaching point of view, we’ve just got to make sure we coach him on all of his strengths, but try and work on some of his weaknesses. He’ll continue to improve over time.”

Roos said Hogan – and another outstanding young Demon, Angus Brayshaw – had produced fine debut seasons.

“Hoges is playing his natural role, whereas Angus is playing more of an unnatural role,” he said.

“You can’t hide a centre half-forward, whereas when you’re a young mid coming in, you’re probably trying to protect Angus a bit more, so he’s playing more half-forward.

“He’s (Brayshaw) had a very good year also.”

Against the Kangaroos, Hogan was a standout and combined strongly with fellow key forward Chris Dawes, who booted three goals and played possibly his best game for Melbourne – or at the very least, his best this year.

Roos was pleased with his side’s two big men in attack.

“[Dawes’] first-half was really dominant and our two bigs caused some headaches,” he said.  

“That combination [was good] and Dawesy’s game today was really productive.”

Midfielder Dom Tyson was also impressed by the key duo up forward.  

“Hoges and Dawesy were awesome for us. It gives you a lot of confidence kicking towards them when they are one out or sometimes one on two – Hoges will still even duke them,” he told Dee TV.

“He’s super impressive and growing every game and Dawesy was really dangerous to be honest. When we gave them a chance deep forward, they looked really threatening, but we probably didn’t give them enough chances.

“That was really good that we had them as a one-two punch and Jeffy [Garlett] was lively as always.”