MELBOURNE will continue to support Jesse Hogan despite vision emerging of the star forward smoking while at a music festival in Perth.

The club had granted Hogan, 22, three days leave to visit his family while he served his two-match suspension for striking Carlton's Sam Rowe in round two.

Melbourne football manager Josh Mahoney said Hogan had headed home to visit his father, whose health has deteriorated recently.

"Over the past few months, Jesse has been dealing with the deterioration of his father's health and the club took the opportunity, with him being suspended, to give him three days away from the club over the weekend," Mahoney said.

"He decided to use this opportunity to return to Perth to get some time away.

"Whilst we don't condone Jesse's actions captured in the vision, the club will continue to support Jesse through this very difficult time."

The Demons have allowed Hogan to go home seven or eight times in the past year to visit his father as he continues to adjust to life in Melbourne away from family and friends.

Star ruckman Max Gawn conceded vision of Hogan smoking at the music festival was "not a good look" but stood by his teammate. 

"Jesse is going through a bit of a tough time himself with his family and for us we've just been as supportive as we can," Gawn said.

"Obviously it's not a good look. I found that out the hard way and he is well aware of that. Hopefully we can get him back and emotionally better so that he can play some good footy for us."

Hogan signed a two-year contract extension with the Demons until the end of 2019 in October last year, but admitted he seriously considered returning home to play for a west Australian club.

The star forward was heavily courted by Fremantle and West Coast last year before he committed to Melbourne.

In Hogan's absence the Demons lost to Geelong by 29 points on Saturday with some woeful kicking for goal playing a major part in the result.

The 22-year-old booted three goals in the season-opening win over St Kilda, but only managed three behinds against Carlton in round two.

He kicked 85 goals in his first two seasons in the League, leading Melbourne's goalkicking in 2015 and 2016, and won the NAB AFL Rising Star Award in 2015.