AFL rookie draft: Hooper thrilled to be a Dog

By Melanie Whelan
Updated November 2 2012 - 1:00pm, first published December 15 2009 - 10:25pm
North Ballarat Rebels' Andrew Hooper at home with his dog after hearing the good news. Picture: Jeremy Bannister
North Ballarat Rebels' Andrew Hooper at home with his dog after hearing the good news. Picture: Jeremy Bannister

AT 11.26am yesterday Andrew Hooper joined AFL ranks.At 8.15am this morning, Hooper will be on the trainingtrack with the Western Bulldogs.The North Ballarat Rebels’ utility was thrilled to be given achance with the Dogs at pick 35 in yesterday’s AFL rookie draft.Hooper said it felt surreal that his dream was finallycoming 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 homefrom visiting a specialist in Melbourne when his namedwas called.He had planned an early morning visit to have a wireremoved from his finger after a post-season operation.His mum was at home in Ross Creek, studying clubpicking 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 FootballClub, becomes the first footballer from Ross Creek andSebastopol 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 playwith the club’s VFL affiliate Williamstown, a prospect hesaid would feel strange at first, especially playing against the Roosters.He joins former Rebel Jordan Roughead (drafted lastseason) and former Rebels coach Chris Maple (Bulldogs’development manager) at his new AFL base.‘‘It definitely makes me more comfortable to have anex-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 coachGerald FitzGerald) — he’s been great to work under andall the boys have been supportive.’’Hooper expected 2010 to be ‘‘full-on’’ footy but hoped toreturn to his trade as an apprentice builder whenthings settled down.

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