Retired Simon Hogan (2007-2012)

[rizzo]

Re: No. 34 Simon Hogan

VFL - 9th June Report

Hoges was fairly good i thought today in the VFL. Has something about him, but just can't put my finger on it. Has great endurance and was pretty sneaky around the packs. Disposal let him down a bit

 

[thejester]

Re: No. 34 Simon Hogan

Got plenty of it, but to suggest his disposal let him down was the understatement of the year. It was atrocious, though no-one in the side did particularly well.

Not that it matters that much - he's only 18, IIRC. He'll make it in due time.

 

[rizzo]

Re: No. 34 Simon Hogan

Got plenty of it, but to suggest his disposal let him down was the understatement of the year. It was atrocious, though no-one in the side did particularly well.

Not that it matters that much - he's only 18, IIRC. He'll make it in due time.

Yeah lol, was trying to be kind. He was drafted as an athlete rather than a footballer.

Hogan placed first in the repeated sprint, equal top in the beep test, second in the 3km time-trial, equal third in the 20m sprint, and fifth in the agility assessment.

The next year or two will really be development years, however the potential is there for him.

 

[Metallica_Man]

Re: No. 34 Simon Hogan

In the best in the VFL today, but is still the 2nd smallest player in the AFL. Hopefully he can keep building up, might become a handy player

 

[batters]

Re: No. 34 Simon Hogan

equal best with tim houlihan in beep test at draft camp another impressive performance last week now really pushing selection

 

[knighter u star]

Re: No. 34 Simon Hogan

Simon Hogan:

Athletically talented Hogan was picked up by Geelong in the 2006 draft by the Cats with pick 57 from the Geelong falcons. He shone at the 2006 draft camp showing off all the assets he had being his speed off the mark agility and a large engine coming out on tops of the beep test with a level 15.04 result.

Positives:
Was listed as an emergency a number of times in the 2008 season
Can run all day
Large Engine

Negatives
Height(one of the smallest players in the afl being only 182cm)
Weight(weighing only 72kg)
Disposal(must improve effeciency of his kick and handball)

2009 hopes:
Must continue to improve his disposal before hopefuly being able to crack into the Geelong outfit and hopefully holding his positon in the team for the 2009 season.

 

[Rosella]

Re: No. 34 Simon Hogan

Simon Hogan:



Negatives
Height(one of the smallest players in the afl being only 182cm)

Just at Geelong he's taller than Gaz, Byrnes, Chapman, Nathan Djerkurra, David Johnson, Stokes, Varcoe and Wojcinski.

 

[knighter u star]

Re: No. 34 Simon Hogan

ok, my sources were not great but i actually read that on one of the other posts

 

[knighter u star]

Re: No. 34 Simon Hogan

Simon Hogan:

Athletically talented Hogan was picked up by Geelong in the 2006 draft by the Cats with pick 57 from the Geelong falcons. He shone at the 2006 draft camp showing off all the assets he had being his speed off the mark agility and a large engine coming out on tops of the beep test with a level 15.04 result. A MEDIUM sized half foward he has a ton of ability which may see him be selected for his debut next year after several places on the emergency list last year

Positives:
Was listed as an emergency a number of times in the 2008 season
Can run all day
Large Engine

Negatives
Disposal(must improve effeciency of his kick and handball)

2009 hopes:
Must continue to improve his disposal before hopefuly being able to crack into the Geelong outfit and hopefully holding his positon in the team for the 2009 season.

 

[Hogans Heroes]

Re: No. 34 Simon Hogan

Every players disposal can always do with a bit of practise apart from say little Gazza.
I do agree though that Hogan has alot of talent and can run all day and next year I am sure he will get a chance in the senoirs.

Who's burning?
Simon Hogan was an emergency for the Cats’ senior side last year and looks hell-bent on going one step further in 2009. He is running some impressive times at training and the emerging midfielder – who looked a cut above VFL level at times this year – looks to be benefiting from his third pre-season at AFL level.

I got this off the Geelong Pre Season report on the Afl website so I think all signs for this kid are really promising.

 

[geelong_boy]

Re: No. 34 Simon Hogan

Jimmy Bartel pumping up Hogan's tyres - http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/article/2009/01/06/41855_gfc.html

"So, Simon Hogan and Dan McKenna and Jeremy Laidler have been really impressing on the track and there'll be some opportunities for the young blokes to show us what they can do."

 

[Hogans Heroes]

Re: No. 34 Simon Hogan

Simon Hogan
Outlook
Spent most of the season on the ball and also played a little up forward. Hogan was named as an emergency for the AFL team a number of times and will continue to push for a senior call up in 2009. He finished sixth in the Cats VFL best & fairest and will likely get his chance in the NAB Cup.

 

[Hogans Heroes]

Re: No. 34 Simon Hogan

Is Hogan the new hero?

By Ben Broad 5:09 PM Tue 13 January, 2009

Simon Hogan hopes to be the next young Cat to break into the midfield
LAST year it was Brent Prismall; this year it could well be Simon Hogan.

The once pint-sized ballwinner hopes to not only give Geelong's A-Grade midfielders a breather from time to time, but perhaps keep them looking over their shoulders should he become more than just a bit-player in arguably the AFL's best on-ball brigade.

These might seem lofty ambitions for a man yet to play a single senior game – NAB Cup or regular season. But the 20-year-old has his admirers at Skilled Stadium.

And the former Geelong Falcon, after being an emergency for the senior side several times in 2008, senses he is on the cusp of a break-out year.

Enjoying his first uninterrupted summer since being selected with the 57th pick in the 2006 NAB AFL draft, Hogan is reaping the rewards of a solid few months on the track.

Off-season circumstances look to have only helped his chances of earning a call-up this year.

Hogan, while not pleased to see former teammate Prismall traded to Essendon late last year, knew that when the youngster he spent so much time with in the VFL for the past two seasons left for Windy Hill, an opportunity might have opened up.

"We have talked about that, with the midfield coaches, that probably with Prissa leaving [that] although it's a big shame it's probably not a bad thing for my football," Hogan said.

"He sort of managed to start to cement a spot in the midfield towards the end of last year and I guess there's a spot there for someone now.

"So that's probably where I see myself playing, hopefully a similar role to him, maybe on a wing or on a half forward [flank] pushing up the ground a bit and sort of using my running."

Hogan's physique has also taken on a different form to the boy who arrived at the Cattery more than two years ago.

The skinny youngster who weighed in at 67kg is now gone. Glandular fever in his first summer in the blue and white hoops did little to help him pack on the weight.

He did manage to bulk up last year but groin and ankle troubles hampered his fitness, so it wasn't until mid-year that he was really able to shine.

Still, after adding a further two kilos this summer, Hogan believes he has reached close to his ideal playing weight of 80kg.

"I've done the most of any pre-season since I've been here and I'm probably the fittest I've ever been," he said.

"I'm just enjoying being out there and not being in rehab, which isn't much fun."

Assistant coach Nigel Lappin, new to the Cats following the 2008 season, obviously knew the likes of Ablett, Bartel and Corey but has been impressed by Hogan.

"Obviously when I came I had it explained to me what he's been through with his injuries and his illnesses and that over the last couple of years," Lappin said.

"He's obviously a fantastic athlete. He and Lingy are the best endurance runners here.

"Not only has he won the runs or been right up there in the runs but he's just worked very hard at every aspect of his game; he's always grabbing coaches to do extras.

"We, as a coaching group, think there's a spot for him in the side and hopefully if he stays injury-free from now on he'll prove that there is."

Lappin said the improvement of younger players such as Hogan would be crucial to the Cats' development in 2009.

"You want your younger guys to develop," Lappin said.

"Geelong's got a very good line-up at the moment but so have some other teams and we need to stay ahead of the competition and you do that by injecting new players into the team."

 

[Hogans Heroes]

Re: No. 34 Simon Hogan

'Skinny kid' earns his reward


TOO small, too light. For much of Simon Hogan's junior career they were the words used by coaches and recruiters to dismiss his selection prospects for Geelong Falcons under-age squads.

Hampden region AFL development manager Alan Thompson yesterday recalled the defining moment for Hogan came at a meeting in October, 2005, in Camperdown, when Falcons staff discussed the make-up of training squads for the 2006 TAC Cup season.

Thompson said Warrnambool squad coach Michael "Spider" Boyd made a strong case for the young midfielder.

"He staked his reputation on it and said 'I think this kid can develop and become a good TAC Cup player'," Thompson said.

"We'd never had him in any of our squads before. It was probably his size that kept him out of our under 15 and under 16 teams.

"Spider suggested Simon Hogan was worth a chance and it's gone from there."

Hogan made a rapid transition to the Geelong Falcons team, attracted state squad interest and was invited to the draft camp. Geelong swooped with pick 57 in the 2006 AFL National Draft and Hogan began serving his VFL apprenticeship in 2007 as the lightest player on the Cats' senior list.

It was to be a long induction process - including the frustration of being named emergency for the AFL side six times last season - before the 20-year-old made a strong impression for the Cats on a wing in this year's pre-season competition.



Hogan was rewarded with selection for today's AFL round two contest between Geelong and Richmond at Kardinia Park.



Boyd, now the Ballarat Rebels under 16 squad coach, is among those chasing tickets to the match.

He has already sent a congratulatory phone text to Hogan but is keen to experience his debut first hand.

"It's fantastic," Boyd said. "We're rapt in him.

"He's really developed and muscled up a bit. He's turned into the best athlete at Geelong."

While Boyd was convinced Hogan deserved an opportunity at TAC Cup level in 2006, he had no expectations beyond that season. "I'd watched him develop (at Warrnambool under 18s) and thought he deserved a chance based on his form for the year, not thinking he'd get to this level," he said.

"Once he got a game with the Falcons, I think it was the third or fourth round, he was getting 12 or 15 touches a game on a half-forward flank but he wasn't wasting them."



Warrnambool football operations manager Jason Fitzgibbon said the club was ecstatic for Hogan.

"It's just great this skinny kid went down there and out of nowhere, popped up," Fitzgibbon said.

Hogan is one of six players from Warrnambool on AFL lists, including Brisbane Lions captain Jonathan Brown (South Warrnambool), Hawthorn premiership player Jordan Lewis (Warrnambool), Melbourne onballer Brent Moloney (South Warrnambool), St Kilda defender Matt Maguire (South Warrnambool) and Sydney Swans youngster Daniel O'Keefe (Warrnambool).

Thompson said he couldn't remember as many players from the city involved in the AFL at the same time.

"The Hampden region is such a wonderful area," he said.
"You can see why the Ballarat Rebels were keen to get Warrnambool and Moyne Shire into their (recruiting) area."

 

[Hogans Heroes]

Re: No. 34 Simon Hogan

Im very much glad Simon Hogan finally got his chance to step up and play at the afl level after being an emergency six times last year.

He racked up 13 disposals, 5 of which were kicks and 8 which were handballs. With an efficiency of 92%. Had 4 contested possesions and two marks.

In the first half of the game he was quite impressive but as Richmond started to come back into the game in the second half he started to drop out of it.

I think he made a decent debut and he deserves to get more chances to strut his stuff in the senior level this season.

 

[oozeboss]

Re: 2011 Geelong Board player review - Six senior players remain!

#34: Simon Hogan , Geelong Board player review, 2011

2011 Statistics: 1 game, 1 kick, 6 handballs, 3 tackles.

Were this record ascribed to any other player drafted in 2006, it would be a portent of impending career death. That Simon Hogan was able to achieve them in 2011 is a triumph of the will.

Simon Hogan's road has been long and treacherous. With no irony intended in any sense, the sheer fact that he is still a member of the Cats after all that he has been through is down to sheer bloody mindedness and mental strength. It would have been so easy to have chucked everything in and fade away into the anonymity of a could-have-been, but Hoges is still with us, still pursuing that elusive dream.

Simon was drafted at #57 in the 2006 National Draft as a 182cm tall/ 68kg midfielder. Despite his 2007 season being plagued by recurring groin injuries, he still managed to be a member of the VFL championship winning team.

It took Simon two years to finally get a crack at the bigs. After the VFL triumph of 2007, he was named emergency for the AFL team for five separate games in 2008 but never got to actually run on with them. His debut finally came in Round 2 of the 2009 season, but he then disappeared until Round 14. In the famous 1 point Lazarus like victory against the Hawks in Round 17 that year, Simon was one of those players who significantly lifted their performances in that glorious final quarter and drove the team to that most wondrous of wins.

Come the finals, however, and Simon was back in his traditional role: running on the field after the final game in his snazzy navy suit to celebrate yet another Geelong premiership.

Injuries are very much Simon's bete noir. Prior to this past season, he has also had to contend with osteitis pubis, ankle problems, back problems and glandular fever. The path to the AFL has been long and arduous. Not so long ago he was regarded as one of the three great new hopes for Geelong, the others being Ryan Gamble and Kane Tenace. Those two are now both long gone, but Simon endures.

Anyone with any reasonable knowledge with footy would be aware of Simon's 2011. He had a cracker of a pre-season and had bulked up to 83kg without losing any speed, endurance or flexibility. Then the nagging doubts that had been building up ever so slightly and insinuously finally overwhelmed him, and Simon was given time off by the club to address the mental health issues confronting him.

I believe that the club - and especially, Simon's peers - handled this situation sensitively and compassionately. He was offered all the support he could ask for, but opted to work through the situation himself with chosen professional and personal support. And thankfully, it does appear that he has now fully emerged from the tunnel.

Simon was eased back into the VFL team and played 9 games, being credited among the best players for the Cats in 5 of those games. At the end of the season, he was Geelong's equal highest vote winner in the Liston Trophy (the VFL equivalent of the Brownlow). The tokenistic AFL appearance was basically a reaffirmation of the club's continuing faith in his potential to become a significant member of the AFL team. The actual stats of that game are an irrelevance.

If ever a player deserves to get some lucky breaks, it has to be Simon Hogan. He is very popular in the clubhouse, and widely respected in the community. He is highly intelligent (and we are talking the Harry Taylor end of the spectrum here), and very generous, as evinced by his morally courageous public advocacy for Head Space, the promotions vehicle for the National Youth Mental Health Foundation.

He has superb physical gifts, including outstanding acceleration, elite level endurance and a Jimmy Bartelian propensity for verticality. His Achilles heel in the past has often been his slight frame (now comprehensively bulkier than in his early days) and occasionally dodgy decision making and ball disposal.

2011 was to have been Simon's crux year, when his career would either take off or crash and burn. In a way, it was a indeed a critical year, but the club - and far more importantly, Simon himself - instead focused on addressing the far more important issues confronting him.

He has lost none of the physical and mental talents required to establish a worthy AFL career with the Cats. He has spent far too long a time in the fires of the smelter, so I for one am both confident and hopeful that the real steel at the core of Simon Hogan will finally shine through in 2012.
Nobody deserves it more.