It’s been a whirlwind six months for Leeton teenager Jacob Hopper.

He’s represented his state at the NAB AFL Under 18 Championships, won a school Grand Final at the MCG and now spent a week at an AFL club.

Hopper, 17, is part of the PM CAPITAL GIANTS Academy and has spent the past week living the life on an AFL player at the GIANTS as part of his NAB AFL Academy program.

“This week has been a great opportunity,” said Hopper.

“I’ve absolutely loved it. It’s been a really tough week but I’ve really enjoyed it."

While not being able to take part in all training due to a recent knee injury, the big-bodied midfielder says he learnt some valuable lessons from training alongside some of the AFL’s best.

“I’ve looked closely at Tom Scully this week because he’s just a machine out on the track, and Dylan Shiel as well. They both have great work rate that I’d like to follow.

“I’ve done some one-on-one stuff with all the coaches this week too and they’re all rippers and have embraced me.

"I’m hoping to be back up training here at the GIANTS in January for the second club week (of the AIS-AFL program). I’m hoping to be running and in full training by then and hopefully show them what I’ve got."

Coming from the same Riverina town as GIANTS midfielder Jacob Townsend, Hopper already knew several of the GIANTS players who’ve come through the PM CAPITAL GIANTS Academy.

“It’s really started to develop over the last four years and with Mark McVeigh and Jason Saddington in charge, it’s been great.

“It’s good to see guys like Jake Barrett, Zac Williams and even Jack Steele and Jeremy Finlayson who’ve come through from the PM CAPITAL GIANTS Academy and it’s good to see it’s paying dividends and that the New South Wales boys are stepping up into the big league."

While Hopper describes playing at the MCG with his school mates at St Patricks in Ballarat in August as “a dream come true,” he hopes to have plenty more opportunities to play at the venue in the years to come.

Many players who’ve been part of the AIS-AFL Academy have gone on to be drafted, and Hopper hopes to have his name read out at the 2015 NAB AFL Draft in November.

“I’m hoping to get my body right and hit the ground running next year. I'm hoping to have a big year and put my best foot forward in my 18th year (draft eligible year)."

Hopper will spend the next few days in Melbourne for an AIS-AFL Academy camp, before heading to Florida in January for a 10-day high performance camp.