Former North Ballarat Rooster Andrew Hooper has adopted Ballarat Swans as his home club.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Ballarat has locked in a three-year agreement with Hooper.
The Swans’ announcement comes just two days after Hooper committed to continue his VFL career with Werribee Tigers, which return to being a stand alone club after ending an AFL alignment with North Melbourne.
Ballarat football manager Mark Verberne said signing Hooper was part of a long-term vision.
He said while the former Western Bulldogs player might play only a few games with the Swans next season, having Hooper as part of club was exciting for everyone and opened the door for possible opportunities down the track.
Verberne said Hooper, who was studying at Federation University, had been looking for a Ballarat-based football home and with family ties at the Swans an agreement had been reached.
Hooper, 26, played his junior football with Golden Point before progressing to the North Ballarat Rebels and then being picked up by the Western Bulldogs in the 2010 AFL rookie draft.
He moved to Glenelg in the SANFL after being delisted by the Bulldogs at the end of 2012 and has spent the past three years with the now disbanded Roosters in the VFL.
The Swans have also announced the signing of Jonty Wall and Damon Van Dyken from Rokewood-Corindhap, and Ben Wormald from North Warrnambool.