MELBOURNE forward Jesse Hogan is injury-free and is hopeful of finally making his AFL debut in 2015.
Hogan - who played just one NAB Challenge game and one VFL match last year due to a debilitating back complaint - has participated in full-scale training during the Demons' camp at Maroochydore on the Sunshine Coast.
The 19-year-old said his back was feeling fine, and he was counting down the days until his club's first NAB Challenge encounter with Fremantle on March 5.
"I'm just trying to make sure I can do everything right with my body now and I've just got to keep ticking off weeks and then before you know it, the games will come," Hogan told the club's website.
"The body's still feeling good … so I'm trying to get the best base possible and give myself maximum opportunity to play AFL football."
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Hogan said his fitness levels had dramatically increased this pre-season.
"I've been monitored still, but I'm very excited because I did the whole 'four quarter' training [program last week]," Hogan said.
"I've been monitored with my back and they’ve been cautious, but it’s going really well. I've run some good times and some PBs (personal bests), and I'm putting together back-to-back weeks and I haven’t been too restricted.
"Hopefully I can continue this into the season."
Hogan, who last year committed to the Demons until the end of the 2017 season, has shown glimpses of enormous talent at VFL level.
In 2013, a year he was ineligible to play in the AFL, he won Casey’s VFL best and fairest award after booting 39 goals.
However, his 2014 season was ruined by a back injury, preventing him from pushing for an AFL debut.