Former Fremantle coach Ross Lyon has described the contentious recruitment of sidelined key forward Jesse Hogan from Melbourne as a whole-club decision from the president down.

In an exclusive interview, Lyon told The Age that the decision to get Hogan was not a coach's call, but as one that involved "everyone" – himself included – from the board down.

Lyon, who is embarking on a media career after 13 years as an influential senior coach, said he had not been in contact with Hogan since he was sacked as coach with one round remaining last year, but that he hoped the key forward – who has taken an indefinite leave of absence to deal with mental health issues – "gets well" and returns to the game.

Jesse Hogan hits the track at Fremantle training earlier this year. Credit:Getty Images

"I think you've got to talk about Fremantle," Lyon said when asked if he and the Dockers had gone with their "eyes-open" when recruiting Hogan, who was known to have issues at the Demons and cost the Dockers' pick No.6 and a second-rounder in a complex, multi-club and player trade at the end of 2018.