At 8.15am this morning, Hooper will be on the training

track with the Western Bulldogs.

The North Ballarat Rebels’ utility was thrilled to be given a

chance with the Dogs at pick 35 in yesterday’s AFL rookie draft.

Hooper said it felt surreal that his dream was finally

coming true when The Courier caught up with him at home.

‘‘It hasn’t really sunk in yet,’’ Hooper said.

‘‘I can’t get over the fact my name was actually read out.’’

The 19-year-old was in the car with his dad driving home

from visiting a specialist in Melbourne when his named

was called.

He had planned an early morning visit to have a wire

removed from his finger after a post-season operation.

His mum was at home in Ross Creek, studying club

picking order and predictions, talking on the phone to his dad while older brother Daniel was watching the draft unfold on the internet.

All four paused and started cheering simultaneously.

Hooper, who hails from Golden Point Junior Football

Club, becomes the first footballer from Ross Creek and

Sebastopol College to be on an AFL list.

The under-18 All-Australian played three games with North Ballarat Roosters in the VFL last season and has been training with the Roosters over the past month.

While on the Bulldogs’ rookie list, Hooper will play

with the club’s VFL affiliate Williamstown, a prospect he

said would feel strange at first, especially playing against the Roosters.

He joins former Rebel Jordan Roughead (drafted last

season) and former Rebels coach Chris Maple (Bulldogs’

development manager) at his new AFL base.

‘‘It definitely makes me more comfortable to have an

ex-Rebels’ player and coach already there, that’ll be a great help, but it will be great to meet new boys,’’ Hooper said.

‘‘I’m going to miss the Roosters and Fitzy (head coach

Gerald FitzGerald) — he’s been great to work under and

all the boys have been supportive.’’

Hooper expected 2010 to be ‘‘full-on’’ footy but hoped to

return to his trade as an apprentice builder when

things settled down.