After all, he did not look out of place, kicking a goal, marking well and finding space.
AFL Talent Manager Kevin Sheehan even played along with the possibility when he spoke to 3AW on Monday night and said: "it becomes a debate…the Commission, who knows? It's got the power to do what it wants, but I understand the background as to why they said you can to go to Melbourne and train, you can play in the VFL but your entry year is the same as every other draftee of your age is next year."
The Sports Today hosts Gerard Healy and Dwayne Russell were at their mischievous best too, raising possible avenues for Hogan to play.
However Sheehan quickly explained the logic behind holding the Demon's exciting prospect back.
He said the draft age had been set so players did not become eligible for the draft unless they had turned 18 in that calendar year for good reason.
According to Sheehan, research suggested that most players weren't physically, socially or mentally ready to be a professional footballer before they turned 18 and 40 percent of players drafted at 17 did not reach 20 games.
And he also reminded everyone that clubs other than Melbourne would be upset if the goalposts suddenly changed and the players like Hogan were suddenly able to appear on the primary list.
Then again, Sheehan enjoys a joke and told his hosts, "I'm sure the Commission and the new football operations manager in due course will take that all into account."
Good radio, with enough uncertainty that it moved us to check with the AFL whether there was any chance the rule might be reconsidered in light of Hogan's performance.
We can report there is no chance.
And we can also report that even after the game on Friday night, Melbourne is quite happy with Hogan having a year of VFL football ahead of him.
"We think he's got a great year ahead of him and lots of learning against some quality opposition [in the VFL], but we'll take the opportunity [to play him in the NAB Cup]," Melbourne coach Mark Neeld said.
