Jacob Hopper came across with Tim Taranto several seasons ago from GWS to Richmond, but at this stage of his career and that of the Tigers' development, he remains at the club purely to help out the next generation of finals hopefuls and play out his contract with as much availability as he can - the latter point being of most importance given an extensive recent history of soft tissue problems. There is no shame in that, it's not his fault that he came to Tigerland at the wrong time to enjoy its triple premiership success. He is a journeyman, and a solid citizen.
Jacob Hopper came across with Tim Taranto several seasons ago from GWS to Richmond, but at this stage of his career and that of the Tigers' development, he remains at the club purely to help out the next generation of finals hopefuls and play out his contract with as much availability as he can - the latter point being of most importance given an extensive recent history of soft tissue problems. There is no shame in that, it's not his fault that he came to Tigerland at the wrong time to enjoy its triple premiership success. He is a journeyman, and a solid citizen.
Jacob Hopper has posted some humongous fantasy scores this year including a big total last week in the game against Gold Coast, but his floor is worryingly low for an inside midfielder as he can drift out of games when others in the star-studded GWS engine room hog the footy. He is a B-rotation mid in a team cursed by injury, meaning he teases with A-rotation levels of CBAs and then can take a back seat when the big boys come out to play. Tom Green is set to go past him, and the return of Stephen Coniglio is a further bad sign for his fantasy owners.
Hopper to jump higher?
Bullish midfielder Jacob Hopper delivered an astounding year of upward progression to increased his average by 15 points, walking his way into startable midfielder territory with eight tons, six of which came in a nine-week post-bye purple patch. He ranked eighth across the league for contested possessions per game and had no trouble accumulating, collecting 30+ touches six times. Hopper still has room to grow and remains a rather anonymous worker amongst a star-studded midfield, which means he could slide further down the draft order than his statistics suggest. Some coaches will assume his numbers slide in a more crowded GWS engine room; history suggests players in his position hold their form. Take him with a middle-round pick and reap the rewards of natural progression.
Jacob Hopper is one of the cadre of younger inside midfielders who have had to assume greater responsibility after a string of injuries to senior Giants, starting with Callan Ward and continuing with Josh Kelly and Stephen Coniglio. Along with fellow tyro Tim Taranto, he is currently in the A rotation of fit bodies for GWS in an undermanned team which still harbours ambitions of playing a big role in September. In his fourth season you wouldn't expect a drop off late in the season, so his fantasy owners can continue to enjoy his greater opportunity.
Get to the Hopper
Lifting his disposal output by over five per game, Jacob Hopper continued to develop with greater opportunities in his third season. Splitting time between midfield and attack, Hopper added four clearances on average for the Giants outfit, a steady improvement on the prior season. Commonly using the ball by hand, Hopper has slowly brought the kick to handball ratio closer to equal since his opening campaign. Dylan Shiel's departure opens further opportunity for the youngster. Whether he can seize the chance will primarily be down to form, with Tim Taranto another Giant youngster seeking an increased role in the engine room. With continued development, Hopper appears ready for greater responsibility but as a midfield only option for fantasy, selection in the last third of the draft seems most rational.
