Midfielder Jacob Hopper is set to reach 150 AFL games this Sunday, having played 114 games for GWS and 35 for Richmond, heading into the Round 8 clash with Hawthorn.

Hopper’s career has spanned 10 seasons between the two clubs.   

The 28-year-old was traded to Richmond in October 2022, and he has since become one of the Club's most important midfielders, thanks to his skill and poise with the ball, along with his ability to lead a young Tigers' side. 

Hopper spoke to Richmond Media about his milestone achievement.

“It’s a great milestone and it’s great to do it here,” Hopper said.

“I think it’s important for (my) family and friends because they have been there along the journey.

“I’ve had a few injuries over the last couple of years, so it has been nice just to get back to playing footy.”

Growing up in Leeton, New South Wales, Hopper played his junior football with the Leeton-Whitton Crows and was coached by his father during his Auskick days.

Hopper reflected on his time as a junior and what it meant to him growing up playing footy alongside his two brothers.

“It’s just a small country town in rural New South Wales, I started off in Auskick then with the Crows, our junior footy club, and I loved my time growing up there,” Hopper said.  

“I still love my footy club back home, and it played a massive role in my development.

“Dad loved footy, and he got us into it early. He ran the Auskick program back home, and I have two brothers as well, we just loved having a kick and mucking around.”

At age 13, Hopper joined the GWS academy program, before moving to boarding school in Victoria when he was 17, where he played TAC Cup football for the North Ballarat Rebels (now the Greater Western Victoria Rebels) - the same club fellow teammates Sam Lalor, Jonty Faull and Josh Gibcus all once represented.

In the 2015 AFL draft, Hopper’s dreams came true, when the Giants selected him with the seventh overall pick.

“It was probably one of those nights that you will always remember,” Hopper said.

“I was extremely humbled and honoured just to get the chance to play League footy.

“At the minute I just love being a Tiger and love this footy club and want to play as many games as I possibly can.”  

The following year, Hopper made his debut in Round 8 of the 2016 season against the Gold Coast Suns, where he picked up an AFL Rising Star nomination and collected 32 disposals along the way.

“It was just pure excitement,” Hopper recalled of his debut.

“I got to play against the great Gary Ablett, which was a pretty cool moment, and it was a good win too.”

Speaking about his time in the yellow and black, Hopper acknowledged he is currently receiving some of the best coaching of his career.

“Some of the coaching I’m getting now is some of the best coaching I have ever had,” Hopper said.

“I’m just really enjoying (working with) Ooze (Adem Yze) and Carra (Blake Caracella), Truck (Ben Rutten), Morro (Steve Morris) and all these guys who are just great coaches.

“I’m loving just getting exposed to these guys' minds and seeing how they go about it and how I can get better.”

Hopper said he has embraced stepping into a leadership role within the Club and is excited by the young talent that the Tiger Cubs possess.

“We have brought in the best,” Hopper said.

“There's still been plenty to celebrate, whether it’s a good quarter of footy or a first goal, first game, there has just been so many moments.

“It’s just super exciting to see these boys grow and grow quickly, and they are going to be why we win games of footy.

“I can’t wait for more of them to get their opportunity.”

Be there to cheer on Hopper in his 150^th game when the Tigers battle the Hawks at the MCG at 3:20pm on Sunday.