The player at all 18 AFL clubs that needs an enormous pre-seasonAndrew Slevison
SEN
31 Oct 2024Jacob HopperMuch has been written and said about Richmond’s decision to recruit Jacob Hopper and his midfield mate Tim Taranto from GWS two years ago.
It hasn’t quite gone to plan as the pair cost plenty of draft capital and a fair bit in salary, and since their arrival the Tigers have not contended while Damien Hardwick, who seemingly wanted them recruited, is long gone.
Taranto has already delivered given he won the 2023 best and fairest and is generally the club’s hardest working and most prolific midfielder.
But so far Hopper has struggled to find his best in yellow and black, mainly because he’s been restricted to 28 games by various injuries.
The opportunity is there for the 27-year-old to take charge of this Richmond midfield group alongside Taranto and help drive the club forward as it rebuilds.
Hopper has played some good games for the Tigers but he needs to get his body right, find consistency and rediscover the form that saw him included in the 40-man All-Australian squad in 2021.
https://www.sen.com.au/news/2024/10/31/the-player-at-all-18-afl-clubs-that-needs-an-enormous-pre-season/