Tiger Shaun Hampson Retires

Richmond ruckman Shaun Hampson has announced his retirement from AFL football, effective immediately. Hampson, 30, has not played a senior game in two seasons due to a chronic back condition. Although both he and the club's medical staff have worked hard to alleviate the condition, but it has not been successful, and Hampson decided to call it quits as he considered his long-term hearth and his family more important than getting out and playing footy again.

Hampson was drafted by Carlton in 2006 and debuted in 2007, playing two games. It was the same year Matthew Kreuzer was drafted. He spent most of the year in the VFL and battled a shoulder injury. He managed 25 games over the next two seasons, despite the arrival of Sam Jacobs via the 2009 draft and the emerging Kreuzer. In 2010, he played just eight games with Jacobs and Kreuzer both in the side for 13 games.With Kreuzer on the recovery trail from a knee injury in mid season in 2010, He and Jacobs split the ruck duties but Jacobs was the favored as the primary and Hampson played just nine games. Jacobs wanted to go home at the end of 2010 and was traded to the Crows at the end of the year. It opened the door for Hampson and he played nine games in 2011 before a knee injury curtailed his season. Despite more knee injuries in 2012 and 2013, he still played 19 games.

Seeking better opportunities, he crossed to Richmond at the end of that year. He played 15 games in 2014, but knee and ankle injuries restricted him to just four games in 2015. The following year was the best of his career with 20 games. Last year, the Tigers acquired Toby Nankervis from the Sydney Swans. Hampson, due to back issues, played only three games in the VFL in the year and has not been able to pay any games this year.

Neale Balme, general manager of football praised Hamspon for his efforts, “Shaun worked bravely and tirelessly to ... overcome this painful injury ... there is ultimately a point where Shaun must think of his long-term health, rather than just the immediate challenge of playing ... It was clear to Shaun and our medical staff that he had reached that point ... Shaun certainly loves his family and it was a very difficult decision for him to make. “He is a very popular member of our squad ... "

Hamspon will remain on the playing list until the end of the season at which time he will officially be "delisted". In the meantime, with his retirement, the club can place him on the long-term injury list and elevate one of their rookies to the senior list for the remainder of the season.

Source: Nicki Malady, Richmond Media Release, AFL Record Season Guides