ARTICLE ON HAMPSON ON AFL SITE

[eliminator]

Tiger Hampson admits off-field challenges hurt his output
Travis King 
afl.com.au
October 31, 2014 1:08 PM


RICHMOND big man Shaun Hampson says he's looking forward to putting a challenging year behind him during his second season at Punt Road in 2015.

The Tiger ruckman was rocked by his father Tom's passing after a six-year battle with prostate cancer early last season, just weeks before Hampson’s partner Megan Gale gave birth to their first son, River.

Speaking on Friday to promote the Movember campaign in support of men's health issues, Hampson admitted his father's death might have affected his form after he crossed from Carlton.

"I really didn't want it to. It may have. My dad passing away and then my son being born within a month…it was a pretty busy period," he said.

"But I really tried not to let it affect my footy as much as I could. Next year's a new year and hopefully it's a nice smooth one."

Hampson played 11 games last season and didn't return to the side after being dropped to the VFL after round 14.

The 201cm big man couldn't force his way back in as Richmond launched a stunning nine-game winning streak to clinch an unlikely finals berth.

Although he fell down the ruck/forward pecking order behind Ivan Maric, Ty Vickery and emerging key forward Ben Griffiths late in the year, Hampson is confident a solid pre-season will put him back in the frame for a senior spot.

"It all levels out in pre-season and everybody's equal. (I need to) work hard, fix a couple of things in my game and hopefully crack back into the side," Hampson said.

"I think fitness is a big one. It's never been a strong point of mine, so I'm going to work hard on it in this pre-season and continue working on marking and goalkicking.

"It's stuff I've had to work on my whole career, but I'll really give it even more this year.

"We've got pretty good depth for that ruckman/forward role which is only going to help the team and it's going to push all of us to try and outdo the others."

Although Richmond's winning run was brutally snuffed out by Port Adelaide in an elimination final, Hampson believes the club is in good shape to climb the ladder in 2015.

The Tigers didn't pick up during the NAB AFL Trade Period, with a late bid for Melbourne's former co-captain Jack Trengove falling through.

"I think our list is definitely good enough," said Hampson, who has played 74 games since making his debut in 2007.

"If we have a good draft, I think we've definitely got the list to make finals and have a good season."

The Tigers' first-to-fourth year players begin pre-season training on November 10, followed by the rest of the squad on the 24th.

In the meantime, Hampson has encouraged about 25 teammates to join his bid to raise as much money as possible for the Movember campaign in support of mental health, prostate and testicular cancer.

"It's great. I've just had one year at the Tigers now – it's coming into my second – and the boys from the start have been great. When I threw the email out and said I'd love a few boys to join, the response was amazing," he said.

"So it's good. It makes you feel even more a part of the team."

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-10-31/tiger-hampson-admits-offfield-challenges-hurt-his-output

Edited to add link

[WA Tiger]

Gee, farther dying would have an impact on anyone, should make a few think, in particular some of the comments on this forum!!

Particularly the repetitive nonsensical comments form one ......

[Phil Mrakov]

I believe in him

[Loui Tufga]

Dud, Delist....

[Judge Roughneck]

Gee, farther dying would have an impact on anyone, should make a few think, in particular some of the comments on this forum!!

Particularly the repetitive nonsensical comments form one ......

Cry me a river

[Mr Magic]

I'm not sure any of us could say how much these two massive life changing experiences would effect someone.
Footballers like the rest of us are only human.
Fingers crossed that he does improve next season.
We sure need him to.

[(•))(©™]

Club needs to leave this issue alone and walk out of the embarrassment arena, backwards.

[YellowandBlackBlood]

Maybe he should grow a mullet!

[WilliamPowell]

I'm not sure any of us could say how much these two massive life changing experiences would effect someone.

Not wanting to sound like a smart alec or be accused of lacking compassion

But he isn't the first nor will be last to have to deal with this sort of stuff.

Yes it does impact on you, it's tough, can effect your work, it can consume you but it's all about how you bounce back from it. At some point you have to get on with life.

[WA Tiger]

I'm not sure any of us could say how much these two massive life changing experiences would effect someone.

Not wanting to sound like a smart alec or be accused of lacking compassion

But he isn't the first nor will be last to have to deal with this sort of stuff.

Yes it does impact on you, it's tough, can effect your work, it can consume you but it's all about how you bounce back from it. At some point you have to get on with life.

Yes but you can't bounce back immediately and perhaps he did late in the season and they just told him to stay there until seasons end.

I actually lost my farther and about two weeks later my daughter was born. I was busy going from one hospital to the other back and forth, happy one minute and sad the next, I can tell you that emotionally and physically it took its toll.

[cub]

Dad dying tragic and horrible for anyone.
Can't wait for him to move on in life.

[Mr Magic]

I'm not sure any of us could say how much these two massive life changing experiences would effect someone.

Not wanting to sound like a smart alec or be accused of lacking compassion

Well you do.

[WilliamPowell]

Yes but you can't bounce back immediately and perhaps he did late in the season and they just told him to stay there until seasons end.

I actually lost my farther and about two weeks later my daughter was born. I was busy going from one hospital to the other back and forth, happy one minute and sad the next, I can tell you that emotionally and physically it took its toll.

Never said anything about bouncing back immediately. But for memory he lost his father early in the season. Baby came along a month or so later.

I'm not denying it's tough, it is bloody tough but again without wanting to sound insensitive most people in their work have to get on with things very quickly. Losing a parent is incredibly hard, been there myself

People don't get the "luxury" for want of a better term of taking their time to get over these things especially in the workplace. As I said he isn't the first and he won't be the last person to go through it

The facts remain that his form was terrible and he deserved to be dropped. The reason he didn't get his spot back was because his form didn't warrant it. So by extension and based on what his output was the decision to trade for him based on what we gave up was a poor one and right now that shouldn't be forgotten

[tdy]

I think they said he had a kid early on in the season. I know kids are really tough early on. Still his kicking for goal was excreble during the year lets hope it improves with sleep.

[Loui Tufga]

I was told that he took the death of his father really bad.
He was actually ready to just walk away from footy, the club was disappointed but gave him the time and space he needed.
Expect him to repay the faith in spades this season😉