AFL national draft 2015: Jacob Hopper logical replacement for Adam Treloar at GWS Giants
THE GWS Giants know they’ve lost a superstar in Adam Treloar. But a suitable replacement lurks in the wings in academy prospect Jacob Hopper.
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WHEN Adam Treloar was eventually traded to Collingwood during this year’s AFL exchange period, the GWS Giants knew they’d lost an inside bull and a future superstar of the game — if he wasn’t one already.
But what the Giants also knew at the time is they had a Treloar clone waiting in the wings — via their academy system — and ready to take over.
A tough, classy midfielder with a ready-made AFL frame and a big presence around stoppages, Jacob Hopper could step into Treloar’s shoes almost immediately once he lands at the Giants.
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In 2015, Treloar was ranked first at the Giants for average disposals (27), second for contested possessions (10), fourth for clearances (four) and kicked more goals (14) than any of his fellow midfielders.
Yet Hopper, who’s likely to command a bid from a rival club within the first five picks at this year’s draft — meaning the Giants must match the offer to secure his services — can undoubtedly fill those chasms.
As NSW-ACT Rams skipper, Hopper starred during this year’s Under 18 national championships, averaging 27 disposals, 16 contested possessions, six inside 50s, nine clearances, one goal and 157 SuperCoach points over three games.
He also showed off his ability as a goalsneak for the North Ballarat Rebels in the TAC Cup, booting a club-high 26 goals from just 12 games this season.
“Having goalkicking midfielders was something I identified how valuable they were for a club,” Hopper told Fox Footy.
“At the start of the year I said I wanted to hit the scoreboard more and I think I was able to do that this year, which was nice.”
AFL Academy coach Brenton Sanderson, who has watched Hopper progress over the past 12 months, said the likely Giant is an outstanding prospect that could play as both an outside and inside midfielder — a similar flexibility to what Treloar had shown over recent seasons.
“He’s going to be a match-up headache for sides going forward,” Sanderson told Fox Footy
“He’s fantastic inside the contest. He’s a clearance machine and really tough inside.
“But then he can drift forward, he’s fantastic overhead, a really good set-shot for goal.”
Hopper grew up in Leeton — a small town in the Riverina region near Wagga Wagga and 550km west of Sydney.
His dad was a diehard North Melbourne supporter — Hopper claims he was “born into the Roos” — who ran the local Auskick program.
“I was into Auskick as soon as I could walk, really,” Hopper said.
Leadership and confidence seemingly comes naturally to him, hence why this year he was appointed captain of his state.
But that same self-assurance vanished during the early stages of his two-year stint at St Patrick’s College.
Hopper moved from Leeton — a town with a population of approximately 12,000 — to Ballarat — one of Australia’s largest inland cities with a population of over 90,000 — for the 2014 and 2015 school years in a bid to help him realise his lifelong AFL dream.
He’d always wanted to move to Victoria to immerse himself in the TAC Cup system and, subsequently, improve his footy prospects.
But Hopper underestimated just how confronting the experience would initially be.
“I hated it at the start, I just hated it,” he said.
“It’s so tough going from somewhere you know really well and where everyone knows each other to a place that’s completely foreign.”
It didn’t take long, however, for that confidence to return.
Hopper quickly settled into a busy, footy-centric lifestyle, juggling school football with TAC Cup, AFL Academy and national carnival duties.
Now he’s one of the top prospects of this year’s draft class.
One of the highlights of Hopper’s footy journey to date was when he skippered St Pat’s to its sixth consecutive Herald Sun Shield title in August earlier this year — albeit with a hint of anxiety.
“We’ve been riding a fair bit of success over the past six years, so I didn’t want to be the first captain to lose one,” he laughed.
“It was good to tick that box off and continue the streak.
“I’ve absolutely loved the move now and it’s been so worthwhile and really helped me in my development. I’ve loved the experience and the opportunity to play against the best and match up on the best.”
As well as battling a little homesickness, Hopper’s road to the draft wasn’t helped by the two serious knee injuries and broken hand he suffered during 2013 and 2014.
But with a positive, hard-working attitude, Hopper returned to peak fitness before the start of his 2015 campaign, which allowed him to play out a full, uninterrupted year of footy.
“I managed to play 27 games this year, which is probably a bit too many really. I’ve gone from playing not enough to too many,” he said.
Hopper said he expected the introduction of live academy bidding would make it more exciting for him personally.
“It makes you feel like you’re more involved,” he said.
“I’m just going in as any other prospect, heading in with an open mind and just seeing what happens.”
What is almost certain to happen, though, is Hopper will end up at the Giants — and possibly in Treloar’s shoes, sooner than what he might’ve first anticipated.
Originally published as AFL national draft 2015: Jacob Hopper logical replacement for Adam Treloar at GWS Giants
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