Abolition of the sub rule helps Richmond ruckman Shaun Hampson rejuvenate his careerELIZA SEWELL
Herald Sun
3 June 2016REBORN Richmond ruckman Shaun Hampson says the abolition of the bench sub has helped rejuvenate his career.
Hampson steps out against league-leaders North Melbourne — and the game’s best ruck Todd Goldstein — in Hobart Friday night as the Tigers’ No. 1 big man.
After years of inconsistency and injury — he played just four games last year — the oft-maligned former Blue said the interchange reform had been a boon for him and other genuine tap ruckmen.
“I think having the interchange rule change, that’s made teams want to play one genuine ruckman,” Hampson said.
“You still get your teams playing two genuine rucks as well, but the change has probably worked to my advantage a little bit and to some other players.
“There’s definitely been a change. When I started it was all about that versatile (tall), but there’s definitely a shift back the other way now.”
Hampson had both ankles operated on during the off-season and had no expectations for this year with little training under his belt.
But he’s since forced former first choice ruckman Ivan Maric to the reserves and is averaging 29 hitout a game.
He wins almost 50 per cent of ruck contests, above average for the league. He’s also ranked above average for hit outs to advantage — almost 15 per cent.
“I couldn’t work on much except trying to get my body fit throughout the pre-season,” Hampson told the Herald Sun.
“I think my ruck work’s always been there, it’s just other parts of my game that have let me down, and my body to some extent.
“There’s been times when I’ve played two or three of my best games in a row and then something’s happened, I’ve got injured and missed two or three weeks and just can’t get back into the swing of things.
“I’ve only missed one game this year and the body’s feeling the best it has.”
There are parts of his game he needed to work on, his disposals is one, and coach Damien Hardwick is frank on that front.
“I think he’s not too interested in me kicking the ball,” Hampson said, laughing.
He said the fan criticism he’s received during his career, which started at the Blues in 2007, had been frustrating at times.
“It’s something that may have bothered me the first couple of years of footy, but it’s just something you come to expect now,” he said.
“I don’t read or listen to anything about the team in the media … I think that’s a mistake a lot of players make.
“You can read a positive article and feel quite good about yourself but then the negative ones, they sort of, on a player like me, who needs to be confident and up and about, can sort of take its toll a bit.
“I’ve learnt to just tune it out, just focus on my footy.”
On Friday night he takes on the game’s best, Todd Goldstein, a challenge he hasn’t faced since 2009, when Hampson was at Royal Pde.
“It will give me a really good indication of where I’m at compared to arguably the best ruckman, the most consistent ruckman, in the comp,” Hampson said.
“As much as I’m sure it’s going to be hard work, I’m looking forward to it as well.”
Out of contract at the end of the season, Hampson is letting his footy do the talking.
“We (Hampson and his manager) had a focus a month or two ago now to just play good footy and when the club’s ready to talk, we talk,” he said.
‘But until then, just play footy, focus on footy, don’t worry about it.
“I love the club and I’ve love to be with them for the future and hopefully finish my career there.”
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/teams/richmond/abolition-of-the-sub-rule-helps-richmond-ruckman-shaun-hampson-rejuvenate-his-career/news-story/036a94b4bd74fb07655eb7643d1caafe
