The Demons' ability to use their second round selection (number 26 overall) at this year's NAB AFL Draft on father-son prospect Jack Viney has opened up a number of options for the club.
The Demons may offer their prized pick three in the draft to Greater Western Sydney for the second selection in the mini-draft (the first was earlier traded to Gold Coast, which picked Jack Martin).
The Demons would use their mini-draft selection to acquire Hogan, who starred at this year's NAB AFL Under-18 Championships but isn't eligible to debut until 2014.
Final mini-draft explained
Although details around the trade still need to be sorted, and more picks could be swapped between the clubs, Melbourne list manager Tim Harrington said the Dees were closing in on a deal.
"We've made some positive inroads today, so we're very optimistic and positive that a deal will be done within a short period of time," Harrington said on Monday afternoon.
"We rate him extremely highly. We think he's going to be someone you can really develop a team around and with. That's a big statement about a 17-year-old, but he's impressed us no end."
Harrington and the club has approached this year's Gillette AFL Trade Period looking for a net gain, and feel that getting Viney with a second-round pick puts it in the position to trade its earliest selection to the Giants.
It would also have picks four and 13 up its sleeve.
Giants list manager Stephen Silvagni predicted a resolution within the next two days, and Harrington agreed.
"We're getting good cooperation with Greater Western Sydney so we are very positive we can do something in the near future," Harrington said.
The Demons also feel Dawes is up for grabs, although appear unlikely to offer one of their early picks to make the trade happen.
"We think we're a good show and we've put a good case forward so far. The player has to buy in as well," Harrington said.
"We think we're a good proposition for him. He's indicated positiveness to us."
The Demons don't expect a decision on Dawes to be finalised early in the trade period.
Callum Twomey is a reporter for the AFL website. Follow him on Twitter at @AFL_CalTwomey.
