Jacob Hopper

Hopper was born in New South Wales and grew up in the small Riverina town of Leeton. He began playing football at the age of four with the Leeton-Whitton Crows where his father coached. He joined Greater Western Sydney's academy program at the age of 13 and regularly gained selection for NSW representative teams in the years that followed. He attended school at St Francis de Sales Regional College. At the age of 17, he began boarding at St Patrick's College, Ballarat while playing TAC Cup football for the North Ballarat Rebels. He was recruited by the Greater Western Sydney Giants with the seventh overall selection in the 2015 national draft. ==AFL career==

Hopper made his debut in round 8 of the 2016 AFL season, in a 91-point win against at Spotless Stadium. He was rewarded with a nomination for the 2016 AFL Rising Star, after he collected 32 disposals equaling the AFL record (since 1992) for most disposals made on debut (Brisbane Lion Bradd Dalziell's 32 in 2008 the previous highest). and nine clearances. At the conclusion of the 2022 AFL season, Hopper requested a trade to . He was traded on 11 October. ==Statistics==

Updated to the end of round 7, 2026. Notes ==Honours and achievements==

• Greater Western Sydney Giants Academy Player Of The Year: 2015 • 2016 AFL Rising Star: nominee • Greater Western Sydney Giants Rising Star: 2016 • Brett Kirk Medal: 2019 ==References==