JESSE Hogan may have placed third in the AFL for contested marks in his first full season in 2015, but the NAB Rising Star winner sees it as an area of his game that needs further improvement.

Hogan, 20, took 47 contested marks in 20 games last year, just one behind Geelong spearhead Tom Hawkins and four adrift of Gold Coast's Tom Lynch.

However after working closely with development coach Dan McPherson on his forward-line craft this pre-season, Hogan is confident he can be even more damaging in 2016.

"I'm working a lot more on my marking and trying to take it to another level," Hogan told the club's website.

Getting his touch back with his marking was a slow process for Hogan, who had an operation on his finger after last season.

Hogan was forced to immobilise his finger in a splint for about a month leading up to the start of pre-season and he had some trouble marking the football cleanly once he rejoined his teammates in training.

Healthy again, Hogan is making the most of the Demons' pre-season camp in Maroochydore on the Sunshine Coast.

The gun forward has put on some weight already this pre-season and he said maintaining his running capability will be something he has to manage.

"My running and strength is something I've been working on and I've put on a little bit of weight, so running with that is going to be a little different for me," Hogan said.

"I’m just working on anything and everything and just trying to improve."

Hogan, who is considered one of the best young forwards in the AFL, is contracted at Melbourne until the end of 2017.

Demons football manager Josh Mahoney told AFL.com.au before Christmas that negotiations on a contract extension were "ongoing".

Meanwhile, Hogan’s forward line understudy, Sam Weideman, says he hopes to quickly build an on-field relationship with last year’s Rising Star.

Weideman, last year’s No.9 draft pick, said a round-one debut was an achievable target despite his modified pre-season training regime.

"The sky’s the limit I think," Weideman, who battled a serious ankle injury last year, told aflplayers.com.au.

"They haven’t really put a set time when I’m going to be back fully fit, but I think I’m progressing really well.

"Round one, if they want to pick me, I’m all for it and I’ll be ready to go."