While there’s been confusion over the playing return of injured Melbourne co-captain Jack Viney, his teammate Jesse Hogan has declared he’s never been fitter after an uninterrupted AFL pre-season.

Hogan raised the hopes of Demons fans when he said Viney, who was left out of their squad for Thursday night’s pre-season match with St Kilda, would instead play in Casey’s VFL practice match on Saturday.

Viney has battled a persistent foot injury and missed their first pre-season game.

Hogan said on Wednesday he’d spoken to Viney, who told him of the plan, but that was knocked on the head soon after by Demons football manager Josh Mahoney, who said Viney wouldn’t play at all this week.

Key forward Hogan battled illness, injury and the death of his father before the Demons narrowly missed the AFL finals.

“I’ve had an uninterrupted pre-season, which is as much as you can ask for so at this stage it’s as good as it’s been,” Hogan said.