EXCITING Melbourne prospect Jesse Hogan will not play again this season due to a knee injury.
Scans revealed the young power forward had received some bone bruising that would keep him out for up to six weeks.
Melbourne's acting general manager of football operations Josh Mahoney said Hogan had escaped serious injury.
"Jesse's scans revealed some bone bruising, he will continue to be assessed symptomatically [and] it is expected that Jesse will require four to six weeks to rehab from this injury," Mahoney told melbournefc.com.au.
Hogan, 18, will join the Demons' list next season after being selected in the GWS mini-draft as a 17-year-old last year.
The youngster kicked 39 goals in the VFL for the Casey Scorpions and is expected to play for Melbourne early next season when he is eligible to play senior football.
He had spent a week in Perth to freshen up for the VFL finals before the game against Bendigo Gold, when the injury occurred.
On crutches, he will do his rehabilitation before taking a break and returning for pre-season.
The Demons have other injury concerns with two rounds remaining.
Sam Blease is on crutches after injuring the same ankle he hurt during the NAB Cup in Sunday's contest against Fremantle.
James Strauss dislocated his shoulder and will need to consult surgeons to determine what his next step will be while Shannon Byrnes has a foot injury that makes him a touch and go proposition for this week.
The Demons are hoping to welcome back experienced trio James Frawley, Chris Dawes and Mark Jamar from injury after all three ran on Monday in preparation for this week.
Jamar has not played since round 11 so would possibly make a return through the VFL.
