As exciting as championship wins were on a team basis, Hogan is about to experience an individual highlight to match the team success – play in front of his newborn daughter Grace.

Hogan and wife Kym’s lives were turned upside down when Grace was born seven weeks premature on March 24.

After some anxious moments early on, Grace showed tremendous fighting spirit and has recovered well in the Special Care Baby Unit at Bendigo Hospital.

Much to the excitement of her parents, Grace is ready to come home this weekend.

“Little Grace decided to arrive seven weeks early…she showed some impatience, which is something she probably inherited from her mother,’’ Hogan said with a chuckle.

“Kym and Grace have done a wonderful job and the nurses in Special Care at Bendigo Health have been sensational in the way they’ve helped us with everything.

“It’s going to be great to have Grace home with us this weekend.”

Grace will arrive home just in time for the Braves first home game of the season on Sunday against North West Tasmania.

“I remember when (Braves coach) Ben (Harvey) was still playing and he had his wife Kirsty and his two girls watching from the grandstand, that I thought it would be nice to experience that one day,’’ Hogan said.

“That could be part of the reason why I’ve played for so long. We’ll have to get Grace a little Braves uniform and she’ll be ready to go.”