Jesse Hogan’s AFL career has been put on hold following the shock news that the star Melbourne forward has been diagnosed with testicular cancer.
The Sydney Morning Herald’s Michael Gleeson is reporting the 22-year-old will have surgery this afternoon, but it is not known whether he will have to undergo chemotherapy or radiotherapy afterwards.
A timetable has not been set on his return, and the Demons are due to make a statement on Hogan’s health later today. However, they do expect him to make a full recovery.
In a statement on the club’s website, it was revealed Hogan was made aware of the diagnosis last week.
“The club’s collective heart is with Jesse Hogan” said Melbourne’s general manager of football, Josh Mahony. “This is clearly a very difficult time for Jesse and his health and wellbeing is the number one priority for us.
“We informed the players of this on Friday and respected Jesse’s wishes to keep this information private up until this point.
“Jesse will obviously miss a period of football due to this surgery but we expect him to make a full recovery and return to AFL in the short-term future.”
The Demons have called for the public and media to respect Hogan’s privacy.
The diagnosis is the latest bit of recent bad news for Hogan, whose father passed away a fortnight ago.
The Demon has been one of the AFL’s brightest young stars, winning the AFL Rising Star award in his rookie season and averaging more than two goals per game in his 45 matches for Melbourne over the course of his career.
Hogan, of course, isn’t the only player to be forced out of the game due to cancer. Current Hawthorn captain Jarryd Roughead spent all of 2016 on the sidelines to treat a melanoma in his lip.
Don Freo
Guest
He will be an absolute star...but that is hardly the discussion point here. Jesse's year certainly puts silly name calling into perspective.
Mickyo
Guest
Good luck.
peter wolf
Guest
Like Roughead in Hawthorn great to have him 100% and Jesse let's hope also 100% cure and we wish him well
Elliott Wrigglesworth-Smith
Guest
Great news that it was detected early.
Tim Reynolds
Guest
My sympathies are with Jesse, and all who have to deal with such crises. But is he a star? This word has become so debased now, everybody who plays AFL, or acts in a film, or makes a record, etc, etc is called a star. Surely if it is to have any meaning it should only apply to the best of the best - or is that a superstar?
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
Good to hear there's a positive prognosis for Jesse to the extent that he's very likely to be back playing this year. It's been a tough year and hopefully, he's got all the support he needs.
Kane
Guest
All the best wishes to the young fella. Now let's hope the media leaves him be
JamesH
Roar Guru
Jeez this is turning out to be a rough year for the kid. All the best to him and his family.
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
Oh wow, that's some gut-wrenching news. All the best to Jesse and his family.
Perry Bridge
Guest
With any luck - physically he can get through this - however the mental toll right on the back of the loss of his father (from cancer) is going to be a major challenge. There's other players who have gone through this - including Carlton's Sam Rowe in relatively recent times, and even Aussie keeper Matty Wade (when he was 16).
Birdman
Guest
If caught early, this type of cancer normally results in a positive prognosis which is the good news here. Nonetheless it's been a tough run for the kid recently.