Tigers can't do without Hampson Jake Niall
The Age
March 13, 2014When Richmond gave up its second round draft selection for Shaun Hampson in October, there were sceptics aplenty within the football fraternity who considered that the Tigers had paid ''overs.''
Hampson, who turns 26 next week, had been an inconsistent forward/ruck with the Blues who mustered just 63 games in seven years and was better known to the outside world - read the New Idea demographic - as ''Mr Megan Gale.''
In the AFL, ''plus one'' usually means playing as the extra man in defence. In Hampson's case, he's been perceived as the ''plus one'' on the A-list invitations, as appendage to the supermodel.
But Hampson has an opportunity over the next six or seven weeks to transform himself - as Ivan Maric did two seasons ago - from a third string ruckman at his first club to a significant, crucial player, at Tigerland.
Maric is in recovery from ankle surgery that will likely keep the gallant ruckman from playing seniors from the first six weeks, at the least.
For Hampson, Saturday night's game represents the beginning of a stretch of several weeks, in which he will find himself in the unfamiliar position of being a player that his team desperately needs - and is counting on - rather than one perpetually on the fringes of selection.
Hampson isn't merely expensive insurance, or what Mick Malthouse likes to call ''coverage.'' The Tigers purchased him, knowing that Maric had been overworked and that his battered body needed respite.
They also wanted a second ruck, with some forward capability, because the plan was for Tyrone Vickery to play as a permanent forward.
Maric's absence has upgraded Hampson in the pecking order. On Saturday night, he will be first ruck, a position he's slated to fill for as long as Maric is missing. He's not the ''plus one'' extra of Richmond's rucks.
In round two, Hampson will face one or both of Matthew Kreuzer and Robbie Warnock, the team mates who were rated ahead of him as ruck options at Carlton. For the first time in his career, he'll have the virtual guarantee of selection for several weeks.
Hampson appeals as yet another instance of a big man who is far more suited to the ruck than a spot as a second or third tall forward. He is athletic, with both the ability to run and a sizeable leap. Brendon Lade, the former Port ruck master and stoppage coach at Tigerland, shapes as an ideal mentor for a player who hasn't had an abundance of opportunities as a ruckman.
Hampson will be matched to Tom Nicholls from the Suns, due to the unavailability (knee injury) of Gold Coast's no 1 ruckman, Zac Smith, so the new Tiger will have his opponent covered for experience, with Charlie Dixon - most adept as a forward - the Suns' probable back-up ruck.
Richmond's other mature recruit - another ''moneyball'' type and discard - Matt Thomas could find himself with an even greater challenge than Hampson, given that Richmond's premier tagger, Daniel Jackson, is injured and Damien Hardwick will need to draft someone - volunteers will be scant - to ''run with'' Gary Ablett.
At Carlton, Hampson was regarded as a quiet, nice guy, who was respectful of team mates, but perhaps minus the mongrel that can separate those at the margins from automatics. In this sense, he's quite different to Maric, but also has dimensions - athletic qualities mainly - that Ivan lacks.
The Tigers have thrown Hampson a lifejacket and, as the first game beckons, he's unexpectedly become a lifejacket of sorts for them.
http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/tigers-cant-do-without-hampson-20140312-hvhx0.html
