Young gun Jacob Hopper has signed a new two-year deal with the GIANTS, keeping him in orange and charcoal until the end of 2021.
Coming off a great pre season, Hopper had taken his game to another level in 2019, averaging more than 27 disposals, four marks and three tackles a game.
The GIANTS Academy graduate who hails from the Riverina town of Leeton has played 48 AFL games since his stellar debut in 2016.
GIANTS List Manager Jason McCartney said the club is thrilled to secure the signature of one of the team’s emerging stars.
“Jacob is a born and bred GIANT having come all the way through our Academy pathway,” McCartney said.
“He’s an impressive young man on and off the field and we’re excited he’s committed to remain a GIANT.
“The way he’s stepped up this season has been fantastic and no doubt he’ll have an important role to play for our club as the season progresses.”
Drafted at pick seven in the 2015 NAB AFL Draft as an Academy selection, Hopper burst onto the AFL scene, earning a NAB Rising Star nomination in his first game after 32 disposals, 17 contested possessions and nine clearances.
The 22-year-old has played in all seven of the club’s finals in little over three seasons in the competition and is an emerging leader of the club.
Hopper said he is excited to commit his future to the GIANTS.
“I’m just super stoked to be part of something really special,” Hopper said.
"I think we’ve got a really special, unique, close group and I’ve got a lot of love for the boys here and the whole club so in the end it was a really easy decision to recommit.
“I think everyone can feel there’s a really unique bond and something special at this footy club. I think the club’s heading in a really good direction.”
Hopper’s re-signing comes hot on the heels of Matt de Boer, Adam Kennedy and Harry Himmelberg all putting pen to paper in the last fortnight.
In further exciting news, the GIANTS have today broken their all time membership record, passing 25,000 members for the second consecutive year.
Currently sitting at 25,282 members, the membership tally is more than 3000 up on this same stage last year and 39 more than the 2018 total.
The milestone comes ahead of the GIANTS playing their first Premiership season match of the season in Canberra against Fremantle at UNSW Canberra Oval this Saturday at 1:45pm.
