MELBOURNE coach Simon Goodwin has rejected the view that Jesse Hogan is surplus to requirements since Sam Weideman's stunning emergence in the past three matches.

Hogan has consistently been linked to a move home to Western Australia, and that speculation increased after his difficult experiences last year, including the death of his father and his own cancer scare.

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The star forward's name is back in the headlines despite a foot injury ending his season, with Weideman's seamless return to the senior side in round 22 coinciding with the Demons' surge.

Fremantle is the club most often tied to Hogan, as the Dockers search for an inside-50 target in the post-Matthew Pavlich era.

Hogan, Weideman and fellow forward Tom McDonald played together five times this season without great success, but Weideman looks a different footballer to then.

"We understand the chatter – that chatter's been around for five years," Goodwin said.

"All I will say on that is that Jesse's a Melbourne person and a Melbourne player and we love having him at this football club, so that won't change.

"Sam, Jess, Tom, everyone feels valued here."

The Demons' success has also come without key off-season recruit Jake Lever, who required a second knee reconstruction and will be missing well into next season as well.

Commentators have suggested one of Hogan, Weideman and McDonald – a former defender – could play a role in the backline in 2019, but Melbourne is well stocked down back, even without Lever.

"I think it's similar to Jake Lever (for Hogan)," Goodwin said.

"They're really invested into the club and the playing group, but clearly there are those mixed emotions that go along with that as well.

"They actually want to be a part of it. It's a difficult period for those guys, but they are really in behind the players and want to see them do really well."