By his own admission, the Mansfield forward said his accuracy in front of goal “wasn’t quite where it needed to be’’.
Well, after booting 25 goals for the month and 33 in five games, Hogan has zeroed in on not only the big sticks, but equal-first footing in the Goulburn Valley League goal-kicking race and clinch The News’ Player of the Month award.
It’s been a swift rise to the top of the O’Toole Cup standings, sharing the billing alongside Benalla’s Nathan Wright with 46 snags.
Hauls of eight, seven, 12, and five has helped his cause, and if he can fend off the likes of Wright, Kyabram duo Riley Ironside and Charlie Barnett, and Bears pair Luke Smith and Lewis McShane, Hogan would become Mansfield’s inaugural GVL goal-kicking winner.
For Hogan, the purple patch boiled down to two elements.
“The last month I've probably been more accurate, which helps,” Hogan said.
“Earlier in the season, I was getting good opportunities, but my accuracy wasn't quite where it needed to be.
“It just clicked - it’s not necessarily something I've been working on.
“I've been playing deeper as well; in the first half of the year, I was playing half forward.”
A former Oakleigh Charger and 63-game VFL assignee for Port Melbourne across its senior and development programs, Hogan is now into his second season at the Eagles nest, his first stanza delivering a 45-goal season.
After 77 games with North Heidelberg in Melbourne, he decided it was time for a fresh start.
“I'm from Melbourne, and I'd moved to the Mansfield area, so just to get involved in the community I thought the easiest way to do so was to play football there,” he said.
“It’s a really good family club, strong values, and hopefully, we can keep winning.”
Hogan has formed an effective partnership with fellow small forward Will Foster (22 goals) and coach Jack Hutchins (27), and the fourth-place Eagles had won seven games on the spin before drawing with Rochester at the weekend.
A dark horse for the GVL flag? With Mansfield up and about, Hogan believes the Eagles can go deep into finals, especially with more tall timber on the way down forward in the form of Ben Christopher, who looks poised to return against Kyabram.
“The confidence is high,” Hogan said.
“It's always good this time of year, in the middle of winter, to string some wins together.
“We've got a massive challenge in a fortnight against Kyabram at home; they're obviously undefeated so it’s going be a really good test for us.
“We get a few players back for that game, which is going to help.”
Billy Hogan’s July averages
Ranking points: 127.8
Goals: 6.3
Disposals: 17
Goal involvements: 8.8
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