Andrew Hooper

Andrew Hooper (born 18 January 1991) is an Australian rules footballer who played for the Western Bulldogs in the Australian Football League (AFL). Hooper became the first player to make his VFL/AFL debut in a finals match since Paul Spargo in 1985.

Junior career Hooper began playing Australian rules football with Golden Point Football Club in the Ballarat Football League. He then played for the North Ballarat Rebels in the TAC Cup competition in 2009. Hooper was selected to play for the Victorian Country side at the AFL Under-18 Championships and he was the joint-winner of the Larke Medal, with David Swallow, awarded to the best and fairest player at the championships. Despite tearing his calf muscle two weeks before the AFL Draft Camp, Hooper still participated, coming second in the agility test, third in the 20 m sprint and equal third in the standing vertical jump. As such, he was overlooked in the 2009 National Draft, but was taken by the Western Bulldogs with the 35th draft pick in the 2010 Rookie Draft.

After overcoming injuries at the start of 2010, Hooper played with the Bulldogs' VFL-affiliate side Williamstown for the majority of the season, where he became a "cult-figure" and increasingly important player as the Seagulls finished on top of the VFL ladder. In doing so, he became the first player to make his debut in a finals match in 25 years. and the Bulldogs lost, ending their finals campaign.

Hooper was promoted to the Bulldogs' senior list with the 110th selection in the 2010 AFL draft and signed a two-year contract with the club.