TONY Hogan, the father of young Melbourne forward Jesse Hogan, has died after a long battle with cancer.
 
Hogan was a member of the 1973 premiership squad with WAFL club Subiaco and a teammate of former AFL commissioner Mike Fitzpatrick.
 
The Demons have confirmed that Jesse Hogan, who returned to Perth earlier this month to spend time with his father, will not line up for the Demons against Essendon on Sunday.

Football manager Josh Mahoney told a media conference, "He won't play this week against Essendon and in times of timelines post that we'll leave it in Jesse's hands.

"That's all we can do. It's a very difficult time for any 22-year-old, going through what he's been through and coupled with that it plays out publicly.

"We'll gauge how he's feeling about it. It's hard to measure in terms of timelines."

Mahoney said it put in perspective questions about his form, a two-week suspension for striking and a recent trip to Western Australia where he was caught smoking.

"The last four to six weeks have been really difficult for Jesse," he said.

"As a club we've tried to support him through this and we'll do the same this week."

Tony Hogan played 15 games for the Lions in the early 1970s and narrowly missed selection in the drought-breaking 1973 premiership.

Tony Hogan (r) with Mike Fitzpatrick in a Subiaco team photo. Picture courtesy of Subiaco FC

He had been battling cancer for a lengthy period, and Hogan flew home to Perth to visit him earlier this month after being suspended for two weeks for striking Carlton's Sam Rowe.

The trip made headlines when Hogan was photographed smoking a cigarette at a music festival, which the Demons said was not a good look. 

Teammate Max Gawn said at the time the Demons were rallying around Hogan during a difficult time for the forward.

"Jesse’s going through a bit of a tough time himself, with his family," Gawn said.

"We’re just being supportive as we can."