Andrew Hooper.
DELISTED Western Bulldogs forward Andrew Hooper hopes to find a new AFL home.
Hooper, who was officially delisted by the Bulldogs on Monday night, told The Courier he hoped to start talks with other AFL clubs after grand final day.
“It’s still in my heart and dreams to play AFL if I can,” Hooper said.
Hooper is determined to keep his game at the highest level he can next season, even if this means exploring state leagues.
His focus for now, is with Williamstown in the Victorian Football League finals series.
A broken hand will keep the former North Ballarat Rebel sidelined for the Western Bulldogs-aligned Seagulls semi-final against Casey Scorpions on Saturday.
He was hopeful to be back on the field should the Seagulls progress to a preliminary final bout against reigning premier Port Melbourne.
Seagulls coach Peter German has offered the 21-year-old a chance to work with his team’s forward lines and sit in the coaches’ box on game days through the finals series.
Hooper said it was a great way to keep interacting and supporting the Williamstown team.
Rookie-drafted to the Bulldogs in 2009, Hooper was promoted to the club’s primary list midway through the 2010 season and made his AFL debut in a semi-final.
He was the first player in 27 years to debut in an AFL final.
Hooper has kicked seven goals in seven AFL games and managed one AFL appearance this season in a year hampered by osteitis pubis and a hamstring injury.