The Mansfield forward has been in searing, near-improbable form of late and it was on full display on Saturday as the Eagles tore strips off Shepparton United in a high-scoring shootout in the High Country.
Mansfield was matched by the Demons in the first quarter, but Hogan’s roof-lifting performance during the meat of the game saw the Eagles secure a 23.15 (153) to 10.10 (70) win.
A 10-goal haul from Hogan was the icing on a neatly-dressed cake, making it the best individual bag of any player in the Goulburn Valley League this season.
It makes it 24 goals in three games for the freakish forward, who has shot out of nowhere to now sit joint second on the goal-kicking charts.
However, it was his partner in crime getting the party started on Saturday.
Will Foster, who kicked seven majors the previous weekend, slotted the first goal five minutes before United hit back with a couple of its own.
Hogan then showed the first inkling that this was going to be a day to remember, splitting the big sticks twice to round out the first quarter and give the Eagles a six-point lead.
Then Mansfield loaded up the heavy artillery.
A narrow lead became a vast gap by the half as Jack Hutchins’ boys churned out a 10.3 second term, blitzing past the Demons, who could only muster 2.2.
Mansfield kept the punches rolling throughout the third quarter with Hogan adding three more and, though United was able to save face with two late goals and then keep pace with the host during the last exchange, the result was well past being sewn up by then.
Hogan was unsurprisingly named best afield for his 10-goal display, serving the Eagles finely alongside the likes of Nick Gray and former Collingwood man Callum Brown.
For United, the ever-reliable Kyle Clarke and Kade Chalcraft worked tirelessly in defeat, while youngster Luke Gaskett booted two majors on his senior debut.
Saturday’s win was huge for Mansfield in the grand scheme of things, too.
The Eagles sit perched in fourth with finals seemingly locked in, but with upcoming games against Seymour, Rochester, Kyabram and Shepparton, knocking off United was a must to ensure some breathing room inside the top six.
5°C