Rhan Hooper facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rhan Hooper |
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Hooper at a training session in 2008
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| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Rhan Hooper | ||
| Date of birth | 9 January 1988 | ||
| Place of birth | Charleville, Queensland | ||
| Original team | Ipswich Eagles | ||
| Draft | No. 41, 2005 national draft | ||
| Debut | Round 2, 2006, Brisbane Lions v. Essendon, at The Gabba |
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| Position(s) | Utility | ||
Rhan Hooper (born 9 January 1988) is a former professional Australian rules football player. He played for the Brisbane Lions and Hawthorn Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). Rhan is an indigenous Australian from the Murri people. He was known for his amazing speed and strong tackles on the field.
Rhan was chosen by Brisbane as pick number 41 in the 2005 National Draft. He joined the team from Ipswich in Queensland. He wore jersey number 33, which was once worn by his hero, indigenous player Darryl White. Rhan was a "utility player," meaning he could play well in many different positions. He often played as a defensive forward, helping to stop opponents and score goals. He was also good at winning the ball and defending, sometimes playing in the midfield or as a defender.
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Early Life and Football Start
Rhan Hooper was born in Charleville. His parents are indigenous Australians from the Kooma tribe. Later, his family moved to Cunnamulla.
When he was younger, Rhan played rugby league. As a teenager, he lived in Ipswich and went to Bundamba State Secondary College.
Discovering Aussie Rules
Rhan first tried Aussie Rules football when he was about nine years old. This happened while he was living in Melbourne. He was very good at it and even played some games with the Dandenong Stingrays. When he moved back to Queensland, he played for the Ipswich Eagles.
In 2005, talent scouts from the Brisbane Lions noticed him. This was during the Under 18 championships where he played for Queensland. His incredible speed and ability to pick up the ball while running fast reminded people of Melbourne Demons player Aaron Davey. Rhan was also interested in playing rugby league professionally, but he chose to play in the AFL instead.
AFL Career Highlights
Rhan Hooper was drafted from the QAFL club Mount Gravatt Football Club. He quickly showed his talent in the AFL. He had an exciting performance in the 2006 NAB Cup.
Debut and Early Games
Rhan played his first official AFL game in 2006 against Essendon. He showed great speed, kicked a goal, and made 7 tackles. His strong start helped him get picked for several more games that season.
In 2007, Rhan had some challenges with staying focused on being a professional player. His coach, Leigh Matthews, worked with him to help him get back on track. Rhan returned to the team in June 2007 with a new commitment.
Memorable Moments on the Field
The 2007 season had many highlights for Rhan. He was nominated for an award in Round 10 for a game-saving chase and tackle. He also made five important tackles against Melbourne in Round 15. In Round 16, he kicked four goals against the Carlton Blues.
However, Rhan also faced some difficulties. He was suspended for three matches after an incident with a Hawthorn player in Round 19. In December 2008, the Lions team suspended him for not attending pre-season training.
Moving to Hawthorn
In early 2009, Rhan faced a large fine for missing training again. Despite being under contract, his coach, Michael Voss, decided not to keep him on the Brisbane Lions team at the end of the season.
In the 2009 National Draft, the Hawthorn team chose Rhan. He played six games for Hawthorn and kicked seven goals. He showed moments of brilliance, especially in a game against the Collingwood Magpies. In that game, he helped limit a key Collingwood player to very few ball touches. Rhan also kicked an important goal in the final quarter, helping Hawthorn win by three points.
Even with his strong performances, Rhan decided to leave Hawthorn. On 6 October 2010, Hawthorn announced that he had quit the club. He returned home to Queensland to start a family.
Life After AFL
Switching to Rugby League
In 2012, Rhan Hooper signed with the rugby league club Ipswich Jets. This team plays in the Queensland Rugby League competition.
Returning to Australian Rules
After playing rugby league for a short time, Rhan went back to Australian Rules football. He played for the Springwood Australian Football Club near Brisbane. Later, he returned to his old club, the Ipswich Eagles. In 2018, he played for the Ipswich Eagles as a player-coach and was chosen to represent South Queensland.
