Two years ago Jesse Hogan kicked 77 goals and won the Coleman. This year he averaged 55.8 in SuperCoach and 49.1 in AFL Fantasy, and GWS let him walk for next to nothing. That gap is the whole story for 2027.
I break down why Collingwood needed him. Only Dan McStay and Tim Membrey kicked 30+ for the Pies this year, and losing Brody Mihocek hurt more than most realised. Then the Giants. Greene, Stringer and Hogan are all gone, and that’s 100 goals out the door. Cadman, Gruzewski and Brown have to find another level.
Then the verdict. If Hogan’s fit and switched on, there’s serious points upside on his 2026 numbers, especially in SuperCoach where contested marks and accuracy get paid. But there’s a third variable most coaches will miss: the early fixture. I tell you which matchups make me fade and which ones make me pounce.
