Access Master Page Property From MVC Content Page?

In a webforms app, I used to be able to access the master page to hide a link as follows through a property...

protected void Page_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
HeaderFooter m = Master as HeaderFooter;
m.ShowHomePageLink = true;
}

However, when I try this in my MVC View, I can access the property but it doesn't hide the link as expected. It's as if the View is already rendered.

<asp:Content ID="Content1" ContentPlaceHolderID="ContentPlaceHolder1" runat="server">

<%
MyApp.MasterPages.HeaderFooter m = Master as MyApp.MasterPages.HeaderFooter;
m.ShowHomePageLink = true;
%>
...
</asp:Content>