Melbourne recruited Don Hooper from Dandenong High School, and when he broke into league ranks in 1932 he was one of the youngest ruckmen in the VFL. Three strong seasons led to his selection to tour South Australia with the state team in 1934, but he only played eight games the next year before being dropped. Hooper initially announced he'd continue play for the Melbourne Seconds, but after being pursued by North Melbourne signed with St Kilda. Hooper subsequently played for Ararat in 1938, before coaching Jeparit in 1939. He returned for three more games with the Demons in 1943 while serving in World War II..
