Richmond star Dan Jackson talks up Ivan Maric-Shaun Hampson ruck combination Jon Ralph
From: Herald Sun
October 16, 2013 3:53PMRICHMOND best-and-fairest winner Daniel Jackson says the acquisition of Carlton's Shaun Hampson is a massive boost for first ruckman Ivan Maric.
Jackson, in Brazil along with eight teammates on a cultural exchange program, says Hampson, who arrived at Tigerland in a trade for Richmond's second-round draft pick, will do great things for the club's structure.
Maric had another outstanding season and was one of the few Tigers to fly the flag after halftime in the finals loss to Carlton.
But Jackson says Maric was all but cooked last year after his massive workload.
"We saw how much of an impact he has had at our club, but we burnt him out last season,'' he said.
"He had such a big year last year (in 2012) that he couldn't do a pre-season this year and he battled hard without being 100 per cent fit.
"Now that he doesn't need to be playing 90 per cent in the ruck we can get him back to his full potential. It also means Ty Vickery can play forward where he's dynamic for a big guy.
"It's a great pick-up by the club and we have shown with guys like Shaun Grigg, Bachar Houli, Troy Chaplin - who was in the top-three in the best-and-fairest - and Chris Knights that we have a team led by Blair Hartley who has had a lot of success in bringing in good players."
Jackson still struggles to explain the second-half fadeout against the Blues in the elimination final.
"It's all about momentum and there are patterns in football and psychology behind it.
"We played Carlton three times with the same pattern every time. We started playing well and then they came back. We won the first one and then they won the second one and then the last one which really mattered went their way. We can only learn from that.''
Hampson will help Maric’s longevity, with the Tigers also having high hopes for young forward Liam McBean, who is recovering from a broken ankle.
http://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/richmond-star-dan-jackson-talks-up-ivan-maric-shaun-hampson-ruck-combination/story-fndv8t7m-1226741100634
