EXCITING Melbourne teenager Jesse Hogan is happy to wait until he becomes part of the club's senior list before a contract extension is even contemplated.
Hogan is tied to the Demons until the end of 2015 and AFL.com.au understands no official extension offer has been tabled, despite speculation he might enter into a long-term deal with the club before season's end.Hogan, 18, has returned to Perth this week to freshen up before he plays the last two home and away games of the VFL season for Casey Scorpions. The Scorpions will also play finals.
Nearing the end of his first season of senior football, Hogan has kicked 39 goals to be fourth on the VFL goalkicking table, nine goals behind leader Michael Lourey from Frankston.
He has kicked a goal every week and been in the best players seven times as anticipation grows ahead of his AFL debut in 2014.
Melbourne chose Hogan in the GWS mini-draft in 2012 after securing the rights to that choice by trading pick No.3 and No.13 in exchange for a selection in the mini-draft, pick No.20 and Dom Barry.
He played in the NAB Cup this year and was impressive up forward wearing the No.1 jumper.
In April, Gold Coast secured 17-year-old pick Jack Martin until the end of 2017 while Jaeger O'Meara committed to the Suns in July until the end of 2016. Adelaide is hopeful of locking Brad Crouch into a new deal before he comes out of contract at the end of 2014.
Melbourne is in a re-building phase after terrible on-field performances in the past two seasons and is looking to restructure its football department and board.
It is yet to re-sign No.1 pick Jack Watts and free agent Colin Sylvia but it has financial support from the AFL that is 'highly conditional'.
The prospect of Hogan joining a fit Mitch Clark and Chris Dawes up forward in 2014 has created some anticipation but he is yet to play on the best defenders in the AFL.
Melbourne is well aware of the need to prepare Hogan properly and have taken a long-term view with him from the start.
All parties are hopeful of minimising any hype surrounding Hogan.
"We had a pre-set program for Jesse at the beginning of the year and that involved giving him a few weeks off spasmodically during the year,” conditioning coach David Misson told melbournefc.com.au.
"This week happens to be one of those weeks."
Misson also said Mitch Clark has resumed running with the rehabilitation group as he begins his preparation to be ready for 2014.