Melbourne Blueprint: Jesse Hogan will give Demons fans hope in 2015 Jesse Hogan will provide a beacon of hope for Melbourne supporters. MELBOURNE wasn't only taken by Jesse Hogan's hulking frame. What got the Demons most excited was that even as a 17-year-old, the powerhouse forward was already fully aware how to use it in the marking contests. Melbourne list manager Todd Viney knows the dangers of over-hyping the club's youngsters, saying of Hogan "we don't expect him to come in as a 19-year-old key position player this year and tear the competition apart." But, after starting this preseason "in fantastic condition," the 195cm goalkicker will undoubtedly provide a beacon of hope for the club's long-suffering supporter base as the planned revival takes hold over the next few seasons. "We've seen (Geelong spearhead) Tom Hawkins take a long time, a lot of the key position players do," Viney said. But I think he is going to be exciting for us. Jesse Hogan was sidelined for the majority of 2014 due to back injuries. He has got some real footy smarts and that's what stood him apart from some of the key position players (available in 2012). He already knew how to use his body, and running patterns. He was more of a natural in that area. He didn't have to be taught some of that stuff. In 2013, before back stress fractures sidelined Hogan for the whole of last season, the Western Australian finished fourth in the VFL goalkicking and won Casey's best and fairest. Remarkable, really, for a 17-year-old. It means that unlike some of Melbourne's other draft picks, Hogan already has some runs on the board at senior level. Jesse Hogan played for Melbourne against Geelong in the pre-season. "He had a very good year in the VFL, he dominated VFL footy," Viney said. And then he went into the preseason expecting to play and comes up with (back) injuries last season, so it was really hard. It was a tough year for him to recover from that. But we see him as a 10-year plus player. He's looking fantastic in the preseason so far. The 101kg Hogan could be the story of Melbourne's season. Not the players it picks at No. 2 and No. 3 in the national draft, ahead of what the club expects will be another improved, but tough season. A series of draft misses and player departures since 2007 has seriously wounded the list, particularly in the outside midfield stakes, after parting with Dom Barry and Michael Evans last week. "That's one area we need to build," Viney said. Melbourne's Blueprint. Jimmy Toumpas, who can help fill that void, has struggled in his first two seasons, but is "one of our best two runners GPS-wise." Viney said the club "made some significant strides last season" but offered a realistic assessment of the club's prospects in 2015. "It is crystal balling, but it would make sense that next year is going to be another hard-yard year for us," Viney said. But the one after, it is starting to look all right. We are young (as a list), and if we are not young, we are inexperienced because we have lost some of those guys (drafted) since 2007. But we had some opportunities this year. We were in front nine times in the last quarter and lose every game. If we had won half those games, that's another four wins, but that's if-buts-and-candy-nuts. Angus Brayshaw (Sandringham Dragons) H: 187cm W: 86kg Tough and hard inside midfielder will be ready to step straight in for the Demons. His desperation to tackle and smother around the stoppages will appeal to Paul Roos" defensive demands. One of those ones Melbourne cannot afford to miss. Patrick McCartin (Geelong Falcons) H: 194cm W: 94kg The arrival of one-grab full-forward McCartin alongside Jesse Hogan will give the Dees the best two power forwards in the game we're yet to see. A natural forward with an accurate radar and a dollop of aggression. Young gun Angus Brayshaw is set to join Melbourne. A key defender with elite intercept marking ability, a huge tank and a super-professional approach to his football. Smooth-moving midfielder knows how to kick goals and twist around opponents. Didn't boast mega numbers this year but is a difficult match-up and has obvious class.