Jesse Hogan is expected to play in the GIANTS’ Elimination Final against Hawthorn this weekend.

Jesse Hogan is “good to go” for Saturday’s Elimination Final against Hawthorn, according to skipper Toby Greene, but doubts still remain over two of the five players the GIANTS hoped would return for September.

Hogan missed the final three games of the home and away season and played just three of the GIANTS’ eight outings after their bye as he battled a foot injury.

But while last year’s Coleman medallist has admitted he considered pulling the pin on his 2025 season, a period of rest before the finals looks to have worked wonders.

The 30-year-old moved well at the GIANTS’ training session on Tuesday and Greene says he will return against Hawthorn.

“He’s great. He’s good to go. He’ll do whatever he has to do on Thursday again. He’s turned it around pretty quickly because we weren’t sure if we’d get him for the first final,” Greene said.

“It’s great to have him, we know what he can bring. I’m sure it’ll be hard to play against him on the weekend.” 

Hogan is set to be joined back in the GIANTS side by fellow forward Jake Stringer and key midfielder Josh Kelly, who barring any late mishaps will make their comebacks from injury against the Hawks.

Doubts still remain over Jack Buckley, who sat out Tuesday’s session as planned while he deals with a calf injury, and Brent Daniels, who looked frustrated as he left the track early.

Daniels has just played just six games this season but starred in the VFL late last month.

His captain insists he’s still in the mix to play despite his early exit from training.

“He’s always a little bit frustrated ‘Binga’. He wants to be out there and do as much as he can every session. He’ll be fine,” Greene said.

“He’s still a big chance to play. I’m sure we’ll find out a bit more on Thursday.”

Even with just the three inclusions, the selection calls at the Giants are going to be difficult considering they won nine of their last 10 games heading into the finals.

The likes of Max Gruzewski, Harry Rowston and Harvey Thomas have all performed well in that time and may be desperately unlucky come selection on Thursday.

For the past two seasons, after losing the 2023 preliminary final by a point away to Collingwood, the GIANTS have been bullish about their premiership aspirations.

They also designed their season to be well set for a strong second half of the campaign, which has been achieved bar the blip of a heavy loss to the Western Bulldogs.

They now have the chance to make the most of that and together with some returning stars and finals experience, launch an assault on the flag.

“We don’t set out to play finals, we set out to win them,” Greene said.

“I’m under no illusions how hard it is. You’ve got to deliver when it matters and that’s all we’re worried about. Start with Hawthorn and then go from there, whoever it is.

“Hopefully we can just keep rolling on. Hawks are a bloody good team, so we know we’ve got our work cut out for us. Win or go home week by week.”

If the GIANTS can go on a meteoric run from outside the top four and win their first premiership, they’ll be only the third team to do so this century but second in a row after Brisbane last year.

“Everyone knows it can be done. Bulldogs did it as well (in 2016). The week off opens it up as well so we know it can be done but you’ve got to win big games against good teams,” Greene said.

The captain’s form certainly helps their chances.

Since the bye, Greene has averaged nearly two and a half goals a game and lifted his disposal numbers hugely in what has been arguably his best form run in the past two years.

“I feel good. I’ve been able to do a big chunk of work. I set myself for the final six to eight weeks of the year. I acknowledged after the bye that I really wanted to get going and made a conscious effort. As we’ve been playing some good footy, I’ve been able to get on the back of it,” he said.