Jacob Hopper

[Tortured Tiger]

Either look to trade one or both out or raise the standards on how they are evaluated. We paid one first round pick for Prestia and he was amazing and more than justified the pick. We have paid a first and 2nd rounder for Hopper and we are talking him up for simply being able to see out the year on the field. That's my point. He needs to be one of our best each week for what we gave up and also needs to be held up against higher standards. I know we are stuck with him but I'm over the praise he gets for simply getting on the ground

Yes I can understand the frustration and I see where you are coming from but I don’t think Hopper was ever going to be a superstar with very good player being his ceiling. I think the club were expecting Dusty and Cotch to be around for a few more years and Hopper was going to be the grunt player and they were the icing. Them leaving and his injuries left him very exposed and his first two years were well under expectations. I think most supporters were relieved that firstly he got through the year and secondly he showed something of value on and off the field. Hopefully he will be even better next year or at least repeat his efforts of this year. The problem with trading in required players is that you nearly always pay a hefty price. I remember the Cats were keen as well so they obviously saw something in him as well.

 

[Little Ziggyadee]

While clubs are getting faster *we invented fast play/ KAO's play.
We continue to play a bloke (s) in the team that refuses to get into 2nd gear.
He didn't do a soft tissue injury because like prestia played at 70%.
Don't run hard No injuries
Games increase from 10 to 22.
Fingers crossed we have kids ready next year to take these blokes spots.
Because I couldn't take another year of watching half-hearted efforts.

 

[Tortured Tiger]

While clubs are getting faster *we invented fast play/ KAO's play.
We continue to play a bloke (s) in the team that refuses to get into 2nd gear.
He didn't do a soft tissue injury because like prestia played at 70%.
Don't run hard No injuries
Games increase from 10 to 22.
Fingers crossed we have kids ready next year to take these blokes spots.
Because I couldn't take another year of watching half-hearted efforts.

Please read your comments below when we got Hopper. I think a lot of people should go back and see there comments now and then. I think many will be embarrassed and seen as huge hypocrites.
“We shouldn’t expect to participate in this year's or have a 1st rounder next year.
Your getting 2 midfielders in there prime for free.
I'm rapt how the club has gone about this.
Loaded up on 5 kids last year, and now will bypass the draft to fill holes in our side.
This has 2016 written all over it again.
Imagine Prestia as our 3rd midfielder.
Good luck winning a centre clearance ball slappers. The ball will enter our forward 50 100 times a game.”

 

[dougie_504]

Please read your comments below when we got Hopper. I think a lot of people should go back and see there comments now and then. I think many will be embarrassed and seen as huge hypocrites.
“We shouldn’t expect to participate in this year's or have a 1st rounder next year.
Your getting 2 midfielders in there prime for free.
I'm rapt how the club has gone about this.
Loaded up on 5 kids last year, and now will bypass the draft to fill holes in our side.
This has 2016 written all over it again.
Imagine Prestia as our 3rd midfielder.
Good luck winning a centre clearance ball slappers. The ball will enter our forward 50 100 times a game.”

Haha.

Maybe they'd be dominating if they played at Glenelg.

 

[Tiger68]

I’m not one to critisise people for there options, as I have strong opinions of my own, but I reckon Hopper is harshly rated.
In high pressure games, when there is no time or space, he puts is head over the footy and can distribute well. He is a B grade inside midfielder as a minimum. There are many in our team that would go missing in finals before Hopper. When we get some speed into the side his value will become clearer.

 

[CarnTheTiges]

I like him, but he’s another slow player in a team with far too many of them. You can’t play Hopper, Taranto, Prestia and Ross in the midfield together regularly and expect a good result.

 

[French Tiger]

I like him, but he’s another slow player in a team with far too many of them. You can’t play Hopper, Taranto, Prestia and Ross in the midfield together regularly and expect a good result.

Well don’t play Ross & Prestia will be gone at the end of next year & obviously won’t be playing every week.

Hopper’s wage now given what is now getting thrown around for other players is actually not to bad.

 

[thegdog]

Hopper would be a great foil for Nick Daicos. Pies should have a dip

 

[UKTiger]

For someone who many want traded he did well in the Jack Dyer to be awarded third place and the Maurice Fleming medal so well done to him for the reward of a fine season

 

[The_General]

For someone who many want traded he did well in the Jack Dyer to be awarded third place and the Maurice Fleming medal so well done to him for the reward of a fine season

Had a very good year, proving his value.
The club either needs to build some pace around him or find another way to compliment his strengths or
Alternatively they need to replace/rotate him more at CBAs with others.
Not really his fault, did great this year, but we need to be more dynamic.

 

[Coburgtiger]

My issue with Hopper has never been that the coaches don't rate him highly enough.

 

[Tigerwa]

Please read your comments below when we got Hopper. I think a lot of people should go back and see there comments now and then. I think many will be embarrassed and seen as huge hypocrites.
“We shouldn’t expect to participate in this year's or have a 1st rounder next year.
Your getting 2 midfielders in there prime for free.
I'm rapt how the club has gone about this.
Loaded up on 5 kids last year, and now will bypass the draft to fill holes in our side.
This has 2016 written all over it again.
Imagine Prestia as our 3rd midfielder.
Good luck winning a centre clearance ball slappers. The ball will enter our forward 50 100 times a game.”

Ha not sure i was back here when we drafted him but i was pretty critical of us drafting Hopper and to this day continue to be so.
I have mellowed over time to what my reactions to this sort of drafting used to be but the picks we used on Hopper should have gone to drafting young mids of which and most don't recognise it, we are still short of.

In 2021 we may have thought we were still in a window but we weren't and so many kpi's were telling us this. Some will say we were stiff in 2022 but i disagree.
At best 2022 was the last throw of the dice yet we went and got both Hopper and Taranto. Yep some of us did question the path.
Many questioned getting both knowing a cliff was coming.

 

[Tigers of Old]

Would be pleased with his podium finish in the JDM after his body managed to get through 23 games for the year.
After so many interruptions, that's a credit to both Hops & Ben Sherpell. It has been his best season with us easily. He played a lot of good footy.

He's defenitely AFL level, I just think he's batting above his weight as a number 2 mid.
Hopefully Jacob becomes more of a role player next season as our talented youngsters emerge.

 

[Brodders17]

gone to drafting young mids of which and most don't recognise it, we are still short of.

Do you read the draft threads?
Pretty much everyone is saying we need to draft mids.

 

[Ian4]

The talk about trading Hopper is insane.

When we return to finals, he's the type of player we need in the trenches.

 

[Tigerwa]

The talk about trading Hopper is insane.

When we return to finals, he's the type of player we need in the trenches.

When are we returning to finals.

 

[Ian4]

When are we returning to finals.

3 years at most. hopefully 2.

 

[Tigerwa]

People kidding themselves if they think three years.

 

[Disco]

I don’t think 2028/2029 is completely out of the question.
Tasmania entering the comp. We’ll have done the hard draft work and have games into our players while others will be on the slide and without access to talent.

 

[CarnTheTiges]

When are we returning to finals.

At least 5 years, and that’s only if everything goes right.