GIANTS onballer Jacob Hopper has always had great admiration for his crosstown rivals at the Swans, but that won't stop him tearing in during Saturday's derby at Spotless Stadium.
Hopper is ranked third at the GIANTS for contested possessions and tackles per game this season and fourth for
The former GIANTS Academy product has been a standout around stoppages since he burst onto the scene with 32 disposals and nine clearances on debut against Gold Coast in 2016, and will play a vital role against the Swans and their midfield guns Josh Kennedy and Luke Parker.
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The 21-year-old said on Friday that he's relished playing the Swans in each of his three seasons in the competition, and with so much to play for this week, he's even more excited by the prospect.
"They've got so many good players in there and so much experience, I know as a younger player I loved matching up against them," he said.
"There's still the ultimate respect for what they've done for the game and how they play footy, but they're the opposition, and I've got to brush that aside and try to beat them.
"It's always a good contest, a really strong match-up between our mids and their mids, and it's a game within a game.
"Every team is playing finals-type footy at the moment, and I think the more games you play like that, the better equipped you are to go into the finals."
In the GIANTS' early years, the Sydney derby didn't carry much significance compared to other rivalries around the competition, but that has all changed over the past three seasons.
Aside from the 2016 qualifying final at ANZ Stadium, this week's clash shapes as the most important in the head-to-head history of the clubs, with the GIANTS needing a win to maintain their spot in the top four, and the Swans fighting to stay in finals contention.
"Hatred is probably a bit much, but if you're not in orange then you're the enemy, and I don't want anything to do with you," Hopper said.
"Being cross-town rivals adds a little bit of intensity to the match, but it's the same as any competition and
Hopper has been one of the GIANTS' most valuable – and underrated – players in recent weeks with his impact on the scoreboard while resting forward.
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With the likes of Toby Greene, Ryan Griffen and Matt de Boer injured, and Jeremy Cameron suspended, Hopper has averaged a goal a game over the past seven weeks.
"I think there's always that need for mids who have that flexibility and can play forward and kick goals," he said.
"It's always nice to get on the end of a few and celebrate accordingly, why not?
"We've got so many guys who can go through the midfield, so it's good to have quick rotations through there, and also have an impact elsewhere on the ground.
"Being able to play many roles is super important in today's game."
