Hopper was born in New South Wales[1] and grew up in the small Riverina town of Leeton.

[2] He began playing football at the age of four with the Leeton-Whitton Crows where his father coached.

He joined Greater Western Sydney's academy program at the age of 13[3] and regularly gained selection for NSW representative teams in the years that followed.

[6] He was recruited by the Greater Western Sydney Giants with the seventh overall selection in the 2015 national draft.

[7] Hopper made his debut in round 8 of the 2016 AFL season, in a 91-point win against Gold Coast at Spotless Stadium.