"We're not kids any more": Hopper says Giants' Generation Next must stand up

The 23-year-old inside midfielder, who has now played 84 games across the past five seasons, has been elevated to the club leadership group which also includes Josh Kelly, Lachie Whitfield, Phil Davis, Stephen Coniglio, Toby Greene and Matt de Boer.

After being belted by 89 points by Richmond in the 2019 grand final the Giants endured a season to forget, winning just eight of 17 games to finish tenth.

At one point captain Coniglio was dropped, with recently appointed vice captain Toby Greene admitting in new documentary 'Making Their Mark' that the skipper was "isolated" in his first year in charge, and the leadership group had to do more to take pressure off him.

Hopper said it's up the club's middle age players like himself to take more ownership.

"We've addressed the things we've really needed to work on, some of our leadership around making sure we stand for what we want to with our onfield actions, and how to prepare for games," Hopper said.

"Not that it was too far out of whack, but just making sure we really commit to the cause and our core values.

"We discussed our defensive transition and making sure we get the best bang for our buck moving the ball forward.

"Leadership is something I've always looked to develop but not it's in an official capacity, it's about making sure I help take ownership of the team and make sure we're heading in the right direction.

"It's recognising that we're not kids anymore and accepting where we're at in our careers, and really try to drive the standards.

"A lot of us have played heaps of footy now and the key is getting that consistency in performance.

Hopper admitted being confined to COVID-19 'bubbles' all of last year to ensure the season was played had a major effect on the team.

Although quick to point out it was the same situation for every team, he said the younger players in particular are looking forward to returning to a normal routine.

"It was a strange year. I tried to learn as much as I could from that experience and we can't change anything about it now." Hopper said.

"Everyone was in the same boat, but it was pretty difficult. I know personally I found it really challenging just having that separation.

"There's no excuses, everyone was going through the same boat, but we do have a lot of family who like coming up for games.

"Not having that interaction, living away from partners and some guys being dads now, it was definitely very hard.

"It was definitely a factor, there was no escape I suppose. You love everyone at the footy club but you're around them all the time and there was no real opportunity to get that bit of 'me' time."

The Giants begin their season at home against St Kilda on Sunday, with Narrandera's Matt Flynn to make his AFL debut in the ruck over five years since he was drafted.

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