Second-year Richmond midfielder Jacob Hopper has reflected on an "obviously interrupted" maiden season at Punt Road.
Hopper, who swapped Giants colours for yellow and black in the 2022 off-season, persisted through a debut Tigers campaign stagnated by a bothersome calf complaint.
The injury saw the newly-turned 27-year-old miss six games through the middle portion of last season, consequently stemming any momentum the ball-winner had built.
"It was an interesting year," began Hopper, via SEN.
"Obviously [it was] interrupted with some issues with my body which was disappointing, but I loved my first year at the Tigers."
Hopper, understandably disappointed by Richmond's September-less campaign last year, is "feeling really good" this pre-season about both his health and his club's 2024 chances.
"We didn't have the on-field success that we were all striving for ... I feel like my body is in a much better position this year, I'm feeling really good, and I've got a lot more work under my belt," he said.
"And just naturally you feel more comfortable spending more time and feeling closer with the group ... We're feeling really ready to go for games this year."
Despite committing to Tigerland ahead of 2023, Hopper is already working under his third Richmond senior coach after Damien Hardwick quit last year to join the Suns and the club's interim boss, Andrew McQualter, also since moved onto greener pastures at Melbourne.
However, the North Ballarat Rebels product has been impressed by newly-arrived mentor Adem Yze.
"His ability to connect the group, not only to himself but with each other has been really recognisable, I've really felt that from the moment he stepped through the door," Hopper said.
"He's just a great bloke, great character and more of the footy stuff, he's super aggressive, invites us to play footy and play freely.
"I think we're still figuring it all out but at the minute it feels really good, it feels like we're going to play some good footy and we're looking forward to the chance."
Hopper's Tigers are scheduled to play a pair of pre-season matches against Melbourne and Collingwood before travelling north for their Hardwick reunion on the Gold Coast in the AFL's Opening Round on March 9.
