GWS Giants' Jacob Hopper picks up Carey-Bunton Medal

Hopper continues to be rewarded for his best season at AFL level yet, with the Carey-Bunton Medal his latest recognition.

The award is for the best NSW player in the AFL over the season, based on votes from the AFL Coaches Association. It is run by the NSW Australian Football History Society.

The Greater Western Sydney midfielder took over the lead in the second half of the AFL season and polled 51 votes to win the medal by nine.

Sydney Swans pair Callum Mills (42) and Isaac Heeney (41) filled out the minor placings. The pair hail from Mosman and Cardiff, respectively.

Hopper's Carey-Bunton Medal win followed on from his selection in the initial 40-man All Australian squad earlier last week.

The Carey-Bunton Medal is named in honour of NSW's greatest-ever two players, Wayne Carey (North Wagga) and Haydn Bunton (Albury Rovers/Albury/West Albury).

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NSW Australian Football History Society patron Richard Colless was pleased to see the award grow in stature.

"We were very pleased to again have the support from the AFL Coaches Association for the voting system for the Carey Bunton Medal, it provided an empirical basis for the award," he said.

It has been a good week for Hopper, who was also named alongside seven other footballers from the Riverina in the NSW Origin side.

Hopper was named alongside Harry Cunningham, Dougal Howard, Harry Perryman, Isaac Smith, Harry Himmelberg, Matt Flynn and Temora's Luke Bruest, who was named vice-captain, with AFL Riverina prooving itself the number one breeding ground for footballers in NSW.

The talented onballer will head to Perth this week as the Giants look to keep their season alive with a clash against Geelong on Friday night.

They made it through to take on the Cats after holding on against their arch-rivals, the Sydney Swans, in a one-point thriller.

Hopper had a strong game with 23 disposals and nine tackles to help his side set up a date with Geelong, who fell to Port Adelaide.

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