MELBOURNE forward Jesse Hogan is poised to make his return to football for the Casey Scorpions in the VFL on Sunday.
Hogan has completed all of his necessary rehabilitation and the Demons are satisfied he is ready to play this weekend, provided he gets through training on Thursday and Friday.
The 19-year-old, who recently signed a contract extension to remain at the Demons until the end of 2017, will be upgraded to the club's senior list on Wednesday afternoon.
Defender Alex Georgiou will drop back to the rookie list.
Melbourne football manager Josh Mahoney said Hogan – who is still to make his AFL debut – is raring to go.
"Jesse's completed three weeks of full training and he's been recovering well from all those sessions," Mahoney told AFL.com.au.
"He'll continue to build on his training sessions tomorrow (Thursday) and Friday and if he gets through without any issues Jesse will play this weekend."
Hogan has not played since a NAB Challenge hit-out against Geelong on February 28, where his debilitating back issue first flared.
He was diagnosed with stress reactions in his lower-back after experiencing soreness after the game.
Initial fears were that he could develop a stress fracture in his back, but Melbourne pounced on the problem early and decided to place Hogan on the long-term injury list to give him the appropriate time to recover.
Hogan booted 39 goals to win the Scorpions' best and fairest in 2013, in a year he was ineligible to play in the AFL.
In further positive news for the Demons, young midfielder Jimmy Toumpas is also expected to return for the Scorpions this weekend.
Toumpas, pick No. 4 in the 2012 NAB AFL Draft, had his appendix removed at the start of July but the club is confident he is ready to play again.
"Jimmy's recovered well from his appendix surgery and at this stage we'd also expect him to be playing this weekend," Mahoney said.
The Scorpions take on the Western Bulldogs at Highgate Recreation Reserve in Craigieburn at 11am on Sunday.
