Player Watch #2 Jacob Hopper

[Rich o man]

Wrong on both fronts , he’s just not a dynamic midfielder . The astute around here would recall I was always quick to retort to those that said gws were montys to win flags that they were so overrated , my words were I only ever noticed jezza Cameron and Toby green and Taranto back in the day . So all these stat padders like josh Kelly , hopper had made a career of chalking up useless possessions and achieving very little from them

I’ve proven to be so bang on its not funny ,,, well not for gws fans and by extension ,,,,,,us

I thought you had misspelt statue when you said astute but then realised you were making a different point.

 

[Bojangles17]

I thought you had misspelt statue when you said astute but then realised you were making a different point.

Moral of the story gws was never the river of gold ordinary folk made it out to be .
Shiel
Hopper
Carlton x about 10 incl Zac Williams
All came with these over inflated reputation and delivered fa . Credit to TT he has really well unfortunately for him in a terrible side

And don’t anyone come at me with Cameron , I mentioned him in my op

 

[Hoos]

TT suffers because he’s in a midfield mix with Hopper, Prestia and Ross.

He also suffers because his disposal - except when shooting for goal - is no better than Hopper's.

 

[Grrr]

He also suffers because his disposal - except when shooting for goal - is no better than Hopper's.

I think his disposal is slightly better this year. Seems to be holding the ball a bit longer and making better decisions. Last year it was just bang it on the boot every time.

 

[Charlie Pannam]

You are partly right, but it still doesnt make up for the fact that his and tt disposal is at VFL level most of the times.

We are not paying attention to the intricacies of the midfield roll as it is changing and are happy to pull out the stat sheet just to justify our new toys.

ALF tactics are evolving to a smarter game style, and I know hardcore peeps here dont want to hear it, but its the truth.

Forwards are paid to score. No point taking 10 marks and kicking 7 behinds and 1 goal.
That doesnt win games. (as we saw with Lynch vs the blues early this year).

Mids are paid to create play and run both ways. No point winning the ball 30 times to give it away to the oppo 15 times...
Thats a zero sum game. might as well not be there.

TT is not our best mid Adam Yze, A fit Lalor is currently our best mid, followed by Ross.

I am just trying to shed some light on how tactics in the AFL world are changing.
And hopefully the days of mids stacking up possessions and automatically getting the 3 votes will be a thing of the past.

Can’t argue with any of that.
Spot on re Lalor, if he can stay fit will be an elite mid. Early days but like our picks from last year, Cumming and Grlj . Hotton ,Kmac, could help transform our midfield in a couple of years.

We need to move on Hopper, I’d take a late pick, Prestia retires and you build your new midfield.

It’s worked ok for Melbourne, moving on Oliver in particular and Petracca.

Time to get bold during trade period this year

 

[GhostofJimJess]

Moral of the story gws was never the river of gold ordinary folk made it out to be .
Shiel
Hopper
Carlton x about 10 incl Zac Williams
All came with these over inflated reputation and delivered fa . Credit to TT he has really well unfortunately for him in a terrible side

And don’t anyone come at me with Cameron , I mentioned him in my op

It's an interesting review, now you mention it, and the likes of Meteoric Rise or Sherekhan would do a far more thorough job of it then me (I can't even tag them properly)

Probably the best ex-GWS careers have been forged by Davis, Steele, Taranto, Hoskin-Elliott and maybe Adams and Treloar. Townsend and Boyd pinch-hit into premiership teams, and made the right decision for their own careers by departing, but you could hardly say they were great sustained recruits for their new clubs.

The vast proportion of ex-GWS - and there's been an absolute stack - have been pretty disappointing.

 

[beema limapep]

Not sure if it's been mentioned but I reckon Hopper and Tasmania are the right fit.

They've been granted an extra $5 million salary cap space and they'll be lured to take a significant proportion of seasoned players for initial depth on every line.

We would just have to hang onto him until the end of next year (only 16 months to go!)

From there, he will be 31 in 2028 and have 2 years left at Tassie on reportedly 700k pa. For a guy who is worth maybe 350k, a 350k hit for 2 years with $5mill extra pa is a no brainer for them.

Assuming Tassie have the first pic nof each round and accounting for academy and f/s blow outs, a 3rd rounder at pick in the early 40s seems fair.

Or, we could offer to pay part of his wage for 2 years and they can put some sugar on some other deals. pick wise. No doubt they will be getting Nank if he keeps playing on as an unrestricted free agent. Also reckon they will go after Tassie locals like Mansell or Banks. Hopefully not Campbell.

 

[Muddiemoose]

Hopper was asked today about the reports of him being traded

Im not going anywhere and love it at Richmond and plan to play out my career at Richmond

Sounds like lids in 2016

 

[Hoos]

I think his disposal is slightly better this year. Seems to be holding the ball a bit longer and making better decisions. Last year it was just bang it on the boot every time.

He does tend to panic handball too. Not as bad as Hopper, but enough for it to be annoying.

 

[Wooden Robot]

He also suffers because his disposal - except when shooting for goal - is no better than Hopper's.

Which is why he's predominantly a half forward and why GWS were right in playing him there.

 

[Hoos]

Which is why he's predominantly a half forward and why GWS were right in playing him there.

Yep. So naturally we play him in the middle as often as possible.

 

[Meteoric Rise]

It's an interesting review, now you mention it, and the likes of Meteoric Rise or Sherekhan would do a far more thorough job of it then me (I can't even tag them properly)

Probably the best ex-GWS careers have been forged by Davis, Steele, Taranto, Hoskin-Elliott and maybe Adams and Treloar. Townsend and Boyd pinch-hit into premiership teams, and made the right decision for their own careers by departing, but you could hardly say they were great sustained recruits for their new clubs.

The vast proportion of ex-GWS - and there's been an absolute stack - have been pretty disappointing.

Players that went to other clubs after initially being on the Giants list, to the best of my knowledge:

Curtly Hampton Crows
Dylan Shiel Bombers
Tom Scully Hawks
John "Behavioural" Patton Hawks
Tom Bugg Demons
Nathan Wilson Dockers
Adam Treloar Pies - Dogs
Jeremy Cameron Cats
Nick Haynes Blues
Adam Tomlinson Demons
Shaun Edwards Essendon
Anthony Milesoffit Tigers
Johnathon Giles Bombers-Eagles
Andrew Phillips Bombers
Liam Sumner Blues
Dom Tyson Demons-Roos
Taylor Adams Pies-Swans
Jacob Townsend Tigers-Bombers-Suns
Will Hoskin-Elliott Pies
Devon Smith Bombers
Tobias Greene - According to "Hear Me Out" is Tigers bound
Jack Hombsch Power-Suns
Tim Mohr Hawks
Kurt Aylett Bombers
Josh Bruce Saints-Dogs
Sam Frost Demons-Hawks
Mark Whiley Blues


27 players from their initial list ended up playing for at least one other club. I have bolded the ones(8) we could probably fairly say were successful recruits for the new clubs.

2013: From there you get players like Jaksch, Corr, Stewart, Z Williams, O'Rourke, Plowman who ended up at other clubs, probably none of which were worth what was spent on them, but Z Williams has been a serviceable player.

2014: Who could forget Jed Lamb, Tom Boyd, Cam McCarthy, Rory Lobb.

2015: Paul Ahern, Caleb Marchbank, Jack Steele, Jeremy Finlayson

2016: Jacob Hopper, Jarrod Pickett, Matthew Kennedy, Matthew Flynn

2017: Will Setterfield, Tim Taranto, Harold Perryman, Jake Stein

2018: Jye Caldwell, Jackson Hately, Isaac Cumming, Zac Langdon, Bobby Hill

2019: Aiden Bonar

2020: -

2021: James Peatling

2022: Tanner Bruhn, Jacob Wehr, Wade Derksen

I have bolded the players that have proven of at least some sort of reasonable use to their purchasing clubs of the players GWS added to their list from 2013 onwards.

By my count 60 players in all have played for GWS then gone on to play with other clubs. Probably about 23 of those have proved useful to the extent they held down a consistent spot in the new club's AFL team for several years. Maybe 16 of those where the new club would happily do the deal again. 44 where it probably wouldn't.

Unqualified successful deals for the club who took them: Cameron, Haynes, Townsend, Hoskin-Elliott, Bruce, Boyd, Kennedy, Taranto, Hill so far perhaps.

 

[Truetiger]

Not sure if it's been mentioned but I reckon Hopper and Tasmania are the right fit.

They've been granted an extra $5 million salary cap space and they'll be lured to take a significant proportion of seasoned players for initial depth on every line.

We would just have to hang onto him until the end of next year (only 16 months to go!)

From there, he will be 31 in 2028 and have 2 years left at Tassie on reportedly 700k pa. For a guy who is worth maybe 350k, a 350k hit for 2 years with $5mill extra pa is a no brainer for them.

Assuming Tassie have the first pic nof each round and accounting for academy and f/s blow outs, a 3rd rounder at pick in the early 40s seems fair.

Or, we could offer to pay part of his wage for 2 years and they can put some sugar on some other deals. pick wise. No doubt they will be getting Nank if he keeps playing on as an unrestricted free agent. Also reckon they will go after Tassie locals like Mansell or Banks. Hopefully not Campbell.

I am a little biased when it comes to Tasmania; however, I can’t see them wanting him or him wanting to go to Tasmania. He would want success, and that won’t happen straight away. Let’s see if he gets any interest from other clubs.

 

[beema limapep]

I am a little biased when it comes to Tasmania; however, I can’t see them wanting him or him wanting to go to Tasmania. He would want success, and that won’t happen straight away. Let’s see if he gets any interest from other clubs.

Always the diplomat lol. And fair point to be fair.

Interestingly the two clubs linked at the moment have a history of overpaying for ready made talent.

 

[Danog]

Hopper was asked today about the reports of him being traded

Im not going anywhere and love it at Richmond and plan to play out my career at Richmond

Where? Seems like some usual Gun BS

 

[Broad Housewife]

the best ex-Giant is Alex Carey

 

[Bojangles17]

harsh on Kelly . He’s the one you wanted delivering to Cameron, certainly not Hopper.
Pure inside mids like Hopper held more value back then.
I sort of feel we got Hopper and Taranto just as/before the game really swung towards transition mids, and it’s continued that way.

I recall at the time a few commentators at the time quizzed why we were after two inside mids that were similar . I’d argue that TT has more tricks to the kitbag. Is a good mark and quite useful in f50 being a reliable kick for goal , but bottom line is they are both inside. Anyways hoping we can clear hopper out , pretty sure we’ll get takers provided we pay most of his contract

 

[Charlie Pannam]

the best ex-Giant is Alex Carey

That’s hanging in the Lord’s long room

 

[Bird Man]

RIVAL CLUBS SEE TIGER AS ‘ABSOLUTELY GETTABLE’

And Broad mightn’t be the only Tigers player in his last season at Richmond, with midfielder Jacob Hopper

2

Jacob Hopper

Age

29

Ht

187cm

Wt

86kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

21.0

5star

K

9.9

4star

HB

11.1

5star

M

2.9

3star

T

4.5

5star

CL

4.3

5star

D

17.6

4star

K

8.8

4star

HB

8.9

4star

M

2.4

3star

T

4.6

5star

CL

4.0

5star

D

18.6

5star

K

8.4

4star

HB

10.2

5star

M

4.0

4star

T

3.8

5star

CL

3.4

5star

viewed as “absolutely gettable” for other clubs, reports Channel 7’s Tom Morris.


Originally taken with Pick 7 in the 2015 draft after the Giants matched an academy bid, Hopper played 114 games for the Giants before he and teammate Tim Taranto

14

Tim Taranto

Age

28

Ht

188cm

Wt

87kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

22.3

5star

K

12.8

5star

HB

9.5

5star

M

3.6

4star

T

5.6

5star

CL

4.1

5star

D

17.0

4star

K

12.0

5star

HB

5.0

3star

M

1.5

2star

T

3.0

4star

CL

5.5

5star

D

15.6

4star

K

7.6

3star

HB

8.0

5star

M

1.8

2star

T

4.0

5star

CL

2.2

4star

were sensationally traded to Richmond after the 2022 season.

But the Tigers have since missed finals in every season that Hopper has been at the club, with Adem Yze

Adem Yze

Age

48

Ht

187cm

Wt

85kg

Pos.

M/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

18.2

5star

K

14.4

5star

HB

3.8

3star

M

4.0

4star

T

1.7

4star

No current season stats available

D

5.2

2star

K

3.4

2star

HB

1.8

2star

M

0.6

1star

T

0.6

3star

’s side only recording its first win of 2026 last weekend against West Coast.

Speaking on Wednesday night, Morris said Hopper, 29, was a name to track later in the year.

“The view of rival clubs I’ve spoken to today is that Jacob Hopper

2

Jacob Hopper

Age

29

Ht

187cm

Wt

86kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

21.0

5star

K

9.9

4star

HB

11.1

5star

M

2.9

3star

T

4.5

5star

CL

4.3

5star

D

17.6

4star

K

8.8

4star

HB

8.9

4star

M

2.4

3star

T

4.6

5star

CL

4.0

5star

D

18.6

5star

K

8.4

4star

HB

10.2

5star

M

4.0

4star

T

3.8

5star

CL

3.4

5star

is absolutely gettable at the end of the season,” Morris told Channel 7.

“Why? I’m not sure. Is it Richmond trying to push him out? Is it Hopper keen for new opportunities?


“Either way, I’d absolutely watch Jacob Hopper

2

Jacob Hopper

Age

29

Ht

187cm

Wt

86kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

21.0

5star

K

9.9

4star

HB

11.1

5star

M

2.9

3star

T

4.5

5star

CL

4.3

5star

D

17.6

4star

K

8.8

4star

HB

8.9

4star

M

2.4

3star

T

4.6

5star

CL

4.0

5star

D

18.6

5star

K

8.4

4star

HB

10.2

5star

M

4.0

4star

T

3.8

5star

CL

3.4

5star

’s name closely at the end of the season in the trade period.”

Hopper this season is ranked among Richmond’s top four players for average disposals, contested possessions and clearances

 

[Yze does it]

I think his disposal is slightly better this year. Seems to be holding the ball a bit longer and making better decisions. Last year it was just bang it on the boot every time.

KE% 2026 TT 52.2% JH 39.3%
KE% 2025 TT 53% JH 52.5%

GWS 2021 KE TT 50.5% JH 59.2%

 

[The Vaucluse]

He can see the writing on the wall. He’s been a big disappointment, paid handsomely and delivered very little. Even last year, we had the second worst midfield on most of the key metrics and many state he had a good year.

 

[RJK Tiger]

Disgraceful. 43.5% DE. Only 3 tackles.

Its incredibly tough for the kids when a player who should be setting the standard might be the most ineffective player in the entire competition.

Yze needs to lead on this Hopper either finds another role fwd or back, or lives in the VFL, or, negotiates a buyout at seasons end. He cannot remain as a midfielder.

 

[Daka]

At some point we have to blame Yze for this, last week was great now back to the old two guys in the middle with no speed.

I'm so over it.

 

[sanaya]

his kick for goal was really the icing on the cake


had one really nice kick i50 but other than that nothing much stood out (positively)

 

[Madtiger2006]

Needs to pizz off right now lol