Former Western Bulldogs small forward Andrew Hooper is joining Ballarat as its new assistant coach in the Ballarat Football League.
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Hooper is leaving Werribee in the VFL to work alongside the Swans’ first-year non-playing coach Joe Carmody.
While Hooper is yet to play with Ballarat, he is not a complete newcomer to the club.
Hooper signed a three-year deal with Ballarat ahead of last season – adopting the Swans as his home club after joining Werribee in the VFL.
However, with him not missing a game with the Tigers, he did not get an opportunity to have an outing with Ballarat.
The 27-year-old played his junior football with Golden Point before going on to make seven AFL appearances in three seasons for the Western Bulldogs after being selected in the rookie draft at the end of 2009 via the North Ballarat Rebels.
An all-Australian under-18, he spent two seasons with Glenelg in the SANFL at the end of his time with the Bulldogs before returning to Ballarat to play with the North Ballarat Roosters in 2015.
He moved to Werribee Tigers this year after the Roosters disbanded.
Hooper joins Ballarat after more than 100 VFL games with the Bulldogs’ former affiliate Williamstown, North Ballarat and Werribee – being well known for his goalkicking skills and had the opportunity to wear the Big V as well as being named in a VFL team of the year.
He is set to play a midfield role with the Swans.
Hooper said he believed the timing was right to move into coaching.
He said Ballarat was an ideal fit for him with its young list.
Hooper said he was looking forward to the opportunity of helping develop the Swans’ emerging players – especially with the club being in a major growth area and having an expansive junior program.
He plans to draw on his vast experience and knowledge gained while playing under an array of coaches at AFL, VFL SANFL and TAC Cup levels.
Hooper said he had started thinking seriously about his VFL future over the past few months, with the travel required to meet the demands of playing at with the Tigers becoming an issue.
He lives in Ballarat and will continue tertiary studies in Ballarat next year.
The Hooper appointment completes a fresh look to the Ballarat senior coach poanel, which last season was led by Shane Hutchinson.
The Swans were 10th last season with three wins
