Player Watch #2 Jacob Hopper

[thegcat]

Hopper for Ben McKay

32

Ben Mckay

Age

28

Ht

202cm

Wt

104kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

7.5

2star

K

3.7

1star

HB

3.8

3star

M

2.7

3star

T

1.7

4star

MG

77.2

1star

D

7.5

2star

K

4.5

2star

HB

3.0

2star

M

2.5

3star

T

1.5

2star

MG

88.5

2star

D

7.0

2star

K

3.4

2star

HB

3.6

3star

M

2.4

3star

T

2.0

4star

MG

67.8

1star

- like for like (both Spams)

 

[voorhees]

Hopper for Ben McKay - like for like (both Spams)

no thanks

 

[PetterdHoisted]

I'm just bewildered at this stage.

What more can be said that hasn't previously been said.

it's off a cliff, he wasn't amazing before, but something has happened.

I would suggest a health check and a visit to a sports psych, something's up, you don't send that many handballs to absolute empty space for no reason.

 

[baazzaa]

Was he any good at the giants?

I remember watching both TT's and Hopper's highlight reels when we recruited them, and realising Toby Greene looked better in their highlight reels than they did.

 

[sabso]

Once they add the 1.2 player rating from this week to the tally Hopper will really be putting distance on the second worst rated midfielder in the comp (of those who get CBAs) - Prestia.

View attachment 2607224

That cba percentage is disturbing.

 

[Infamy]

I wouldn't be surprised if he's playing injured and would be getting rested if our injury list wasn't already in such a dire situation.

 

[tiger_tough]

I wouldn't be surprised if he's playing injured and would be getting rested if our injury list wasn't already in such a dire situation.

But he looks to be getting from contest to contest okay yet cant kick or handball for shite. I just think his confidence is so shot hes cooked himself.

 

[Meteoric Rise]

But he looks to be getting from contest to contest okay yet cant kick or handball for shite. I just think his confidence is so shot hes cooked himself.

Maybe been told don't hit a target all year there is a shiny new GWM in it for you, no questions asked.

 

[ComfortablyNumb]

Collingwood ? Geelong or Carlton lol

oh god

surely collingwood have a waiting list longer than the mcc by now, might never get in with all their oldies hogging those ponsford seats they never use then whinge about us taking them off them

 

[wegetpumped]

Just a horrible player gets the ball and gives it away.

 

[Daka]

When you see one of our senior players butcher the ball like Hopper does is it any wonder why our standards & kicking skills are so low?

God I miss Cotchin & Co.

 

[Lacustrus]

I remember watching both TT's and Hopper's highlight reels when we recruited them, and realising Toby Greene looked better in their highlight reels than they did.

Toby is a gun, no doubt about it

 

[Achilles Heel]

Might be mistaken but I'm pretty sure we had Rioli and Bolton money on our books in some capacity after they got traded too. I feel this happens with most trades of players who still have years to run on the contract. It helps with leverage if you can absorb some of the wage to demand a higher pick from the club they are going to.

Us regaining that money back is part of what has helped form this war chest we now have.

The mythical war chest , with celery caps and minimum payments the war chest is a myth , it was emptied during our Dynasty and whatever was left is in the underground car park

 

[Achilles Heel]

Even Richmond VFL dont want him.

Its incredible this guy made a GF as a prime mover.

And what a grand final it was

 

[Cdog71]

Was he any good at the giants?

Played 7 seasons was in the top5 in the BnF for 4 I think.
Has been in the top 5 for us at least once.

 

[tigs2010]

Maybe been told don't hit a target all year there is a shiny new GWM in it for you, no questions asked.

At this rate he might be expecting multiple

 

[kozi]

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

Hopper and anyone not named richmond are a great fit

 

[Grrr]

Everyone worrying about his ball use of lack there of, what about his defensive efforts. Rarely tackles and the amount of times you see opposition mids just run off him in two steps is equally frustrating.

When he lined up next to Rankin in the middle it was like an under 8 trying to keep uo with an under 14.

 

[Vassp]

thats gold

I didnt even get it

 

[Vassp]

I wouldn't be surprised if he's playing injured and would be getting rested if our injury list wasn't already in such a dire situation.

injuries dont make you play that bad, Diesel had very bad hammies i believe, and his dipsoal was amazing.

 

[fargothegreat]

While we have no one available to replace him they should play him forward more and minimise his game time. Give the midfield minutes back to Cumming.

 

[ShereKhan]

rubbish, he on 750K plus and plays like a part time VFL player. he is too slow, doesnt use the ball well enough and i called it years AGO, its only now our supporters are starting to notice.

In 2026, there are 50 x players with 5+ games, 20+ disposals and 50% CBA's....:

Player Rating:
TT: 28th
Hopper: 50th

*rating takes into account everything a player brings to the table...the rating punishes turnovers and poor ball use a lot. So there's no way a 'part-time VFL player' could have a higher rating than 22 other permanent AFL mids.

Disposals/clanger:
Taranto: 9th best
Hopper: 50th

*41 other players commit more clangers per disposal than TT.

Dispsosals/turnover:
Taranto: 31st
Hopper: 50th

Disposal retention:
Taranto: 29th
Hopper: 49th

Kick Retention rating:
Taranto: 41st
Hopper: 50th

Groundball gets:
Taranto: 2nd
Hopper: 6th

Hardball gets:
Taranto: 5th
Hopper: 2nd

Looseball Gets:
Taranto: 3rd
Hopper: 29th

CC/CBA:
Taranto: 6th
Hopper: 37th

Total Clearances:
TT: 9th
Hopper: 26th

Tackles:
Taranto: 13th
Hopper: 49th

Pressure Acts:
Taranto: 22nd
Hopper: 49th

Haven't you ever wondered how Josh Dunkley remains a permanent member of the Lion's midfield despite playing alongside Ashcroft x 2, Neale, Bailey, McCluggage etc....Or how Tom Atkins remains a permanent member of the Cats midfield? Or how Jack Steele who the Saints pushed out the door has become an important part of their mix alongside a bevy of quick mids at Melbourne?

It's because they tackle, get hardballs, apply pressure etc....which allows the other faster and better ball users to focus on their strengths whilst they do the dirty work.

Anyway...TT gets lumped with Hopper...I get it. But when Hotton, Lalor, Smillie, Cumming, Campbell etc...are hopefully our midfield mainstays, TT will be a vital part of the mix.

TT is the same player he was when winning a B&F in a GF team at GWS in 2019....just he had Coniglio, Kelly, Williams, Greene, Whitfield and a peak Hopper around him.

 

[Vassp]

In 2026, there are 50 x players with 5+ games, 20+ disposals and 50% CBA's....:

Player Rating:
TT: 28th
Hopper: 50th

*rating takes into account everything a player brings to the table...the rating punishes turnovers and poor ball use a lot. So there's no way a 'part-time VFL player' could have a higher rating than 22 other permanent AFL mids.

Disposals/clanger:
Taranto: 9th best
Hopper: 50th

*41 other players commit more clangers per disposal than TT.

Dispsosals/turnover:
Taranto: 31st
Hopper: 50th

Disposal retention:
Taranto: 29th
Hopper: 49th

Kick Retention rating:
Taranto: 41st
Hopper: 50th

Groundball gets:
Taranto: 2nd
Hopper: 6th

Hardball gets:
Taranto: 5th
Hopper: 2nd

Looseball Gets:
Taranto: 3rd
Hopper: 29th

CC/CBA:
Taranto: 6th
Hopper: 37th

Total Clearances:
TT: 9th
Hopper: 26th

Tackles:
Taranto: 13th
Hopper: 49th

Pressure Acts:
Taranto: 22nd
Hopper: 49th

Haven't you ever wondered how Josh Dunkley remains a permanent member of the Lion's midfield despite playing alongside Ashcroft x 2, Neale, Bailey, McCluggage etc....Or how Tom Atkins remains a permanent member of the Cats midfield? Or how Jack Steele who the Saints pushed out the door has become an important part of their mix alongside a bevy of quick mids at Melbourne?

It's because they tackle, get hardballs, apply pressure etc....which allows the other faster and better ball users to focus on their strengths whilst they do the dirty work.

Anyway...TT gets lumped with Hopper...I get it. But when Hotton, Lalor, Smillie, Cumming, Campbell etc...are hopefully our midfield mainstays, TT will be a vital part of the mix.

TT is the same player he was when winning a B&F in a GF team at GWS in 2019....just he had Coniglio, Kelly, Williams, Greene, Whitfield and a peak Hopper around him.

Nothing you can say will convince me that TT is a good midfielder. The game is a speed game not a heavy plow game.

I watch the games closely, very closely. I watch what the player does, where he moves, and how much pressure they are under at the time of disposal, where they decide to use the ball, where they are positioned to make a tackle etc.
Preasure act dont take much when youre standing next to the play waiting for them to take possession and then tackle.

That is a zero sum game, it doesn't get the team anything, that's what your stats dont show you.

For his pay packet he isnt great,

 

[ShereKhan]

H

Played 7 seasons was in the top5 in the BnF for 4 I think.
Has been in the top 5 for us at least once.

Hopper made an AA squad when at the Giants in 2021. Got a very respectable 51 coaches votes and 15 Brownlow votes. His overall ball use was mid-range across the board. He was 24yo and tracking nicely towards his peak as a mid. 2022 was injury riddled, but if we were to get the 2021 version of Hopper then we'd have been greatly satisfied as his level in 2021 was as a top-20 mid in the competition (top-20 in coaches votes, Brownlow votes and made AA squad).

Obviously injuries curtailed him a lot across 2023-24 for us, but his 2025 was solid in what was a tough on-field season.

Let's be clear....he is NOT the same player he was in 2025. Age, game style, attitude...I'm not sure what's happened, but he has fallen off the proverbial cliff, from a mid-range, B-grade CBA mid to literally the worst in the competition.

In 2025 he finished 3rd in B&F and got a very respectable 25 coaches votes - 33rd of all mids for the season, so not bad in a bottom team.

His player rating in 2025 was 10.20....not great, but not bad. This year it's a diabolical 5.60....by far the lowest of all regular CBA mids in the competition...he's not even close to the 2nd worst.

 

[Football Tragic]

2 first round draft picks, 7 year contract.....and he never tackles, never applies pressure and turns the ball over.