Demons take note of key Dog's AFL shutdown

Jun 14, 2017 - 7:48 AM Speedster Jason Johannisen can expect more close attention as the Western Bulldogs set out to redeem themselves in Sunday's AFL clash with Melbourne.

Demons coach Simon Goodwin said they had taken careful note of how Sydney's George Hewett shut down the Norm Smith Medallist a week ago.

It was the Bulldogs' worst loss under coach Luke Beveridge.

"It's certainly interesting, they took away a really key running player in their game and it's something we'll obviously look at," Goodwin said.

"He's a quality player and he gets a lot of metres gained each week, so he's obviously someone who will be clear in our planning."

Goodwin has no doubt the reigning premiers will be fired up for Sunday's Etihad Stadium clash after the 46-point loss to the Swans.

"Their history suggests over the last two years that they play a certain brand of footy, consistently," Goodwin said.

"That's what we'll be expecting this week - last week was probably the first time they haven't played that way for a couple of years now.

"It's probably something that's a bit abnormal to them and we expect a response, no doubt about that."

Goodwin said ruckman Max Gawn trained well on Tuesday and remains a chance to return from his hamstring surgery against the Bulldogs.

"He's in the frame this week ... the sooner we get him back out there, the better," Goodwin said.

Fellow ruckman Jake Spencer is also a chance for a recall after recovering from a shoulder injury.

But Goodwin noted the Bulldogs had shown in the last year that sides can prosper without a specialist ruckman.

"What's been proved over probably a 12-month period now is that you don't necessarily have to win the hitouts to win the clearances," he said.

"So it comes down to a whole range of things.

"Whichever way we go, we know our midfield has some skillsets to win clearances, whether they have a recognised ruckman or not."

Meanwhile, it remains unclear how long key forward Jesse Hogan will be out of the AFL as he recovers from his cancer scare.

On Tuesday, the Demons said Hogan was about four to six weeks away from returning.

"That recovery period is taking a little bit longer, but he'll do a few weeks of training and he could come to hand quite quickly," Goodwin said.

"We're not definitely saying four to six, we'll just take it every couple of weeks and at the moment he's probably at least two to three weeks away."

Source: AAP