Shaun Hampson Biography

Shaun Hampson announces his retirement after failing to overcome a chronic back condition.

"Shaun worked bravely and tirelessly to give himself the best chance to overcome this painful injury," Richmond football manager Neil Balme said.

"There is ultimately a point where Shaun must think of his long-term health, rather than just the immediate challenge of playing football. It was clear to Shaun and our medical staff that he had reached that point."

Richmond is positive about Shaun Hampson's ability to managing a back injury through 2018.

"Most of what he does is relatively modified, but he's just trying to get himself fit enough so he can play," Richmond football manager Neil Balme said.

"He's looking after himself well, but backs are backs, they don't just go away.

"We’ve got to be careful with his ground ball stuff, just to make sure we don't put too much stress on him."

Another in Shaun Hampson's recovery from a back injury could see him miss the rest of the year.

"He'll be moving well and then all of a sudden something won't feel right and he'll go back a little bit," Richmond coach Damien Hardwick said.

"It's going to be longer than we initially thought, how long we're not too sure."

"It's always in the back of your mind that it's one of those ones that might hang around for 12 months."

Hampson has turned to pilates to improve his weaknesses.

"He's doing a lot of pilates off-site. We're just saturating him with that at the moment, just to try and get a bit of stability around his back and pelvis area," Hardwick said.

Richmond places Shaun Hampson on the long-term injury list due to a lingering back injury.

Shaun Hampson, 28, and Sam Lloyd, 26, have both signed two-year contract extensions to remain at Richmond until the end of 2018.

"While our overall season has been disappointing, we've been really pleased with the performances of both Sam and Shaun over the course of the season," Tigers general manager of football Dan Richardson said.

"Sam has worked incredibly hard since the start of pre-season to improve his fitness and ensure he has an impact across four quarters, which has been noticeable in games.

"Shaun's had his most consistent year since arriving at Richmond. His ruck work is continuously improving and we've seen him having more of an impact around the ground as well.

"We're looking forward to both Sam and Shaun building on the progress they've made this season and taking their game to another level next season."

Shaun Hampson says the club's "mindfulness" trainer, Emma Murray, has helped him discover his career-best form this season.

"I've done a bit of work with her towards the end of last year and the start of this year and a lot of boys swear by her and she just gets you in a really good head-space," Hampson told SEN radio.

"You can talk about things not related to football, but it's mainly about on-field performance.

"She talks to you about what that looks like, gets you to visualise about what you can bring to the game, just keep doing that and reminding yourself that."

Shaun Hampson says he's surprised to be in career-best form after a double ankle reconstruction at the end of last year limited his preparation for season 2016.

"I think this is one of, if not, my best season," Hampson said.

"I'm still playing far from my best footy. I feel like my ruck work is really good, but I'd still like to get involved more around the ground.

"My follow-up work is an area I want to improve, especially when you see the likes of [Shane] Mumford, and what he does."

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

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."

With Ivan Maric edging closer to a return from injury, Shaun Hampson is looking forward to finally combining with his fellow big man on the field for the Tigers.

"I was recruited to help the big fella out and I haven't played a game with him yet, so I'm looking forward to that," Hampson said.

"I've been looking forward to it all pre-season as well, but his body didn't quite permit it.

"I love the way he plays. I always hated playing against him, and I think I can really help him out in a positive way."

Orren Stephenson's manager Dan Richardson has confirmed that his client's place on the Tigers' playing list is safe despite the club trading for Shaun Hampson.

Shaun Hampson is officially a Richmond player after the Tigers agreed to trade their second-round draft pick for the Carlton ruckman.

"We identified Shaun Hampson as a player who will complement our existing ruck/key forward structure," Richmond's list manager Blair Hartley said.

"At 25 years of age we feel that Shaun's best football is ahead of him. Players over 200cm with Shaun's athletic qualities are hard to find.

"Over the past few years we have focused on recruiting players of great character and Shaun also fits this mould."

With Jarrad Waite, Matthew Kreuzer, Levi Casboult, Luke Mitchell, Shaun Hampson and Sam Rowe all expected to be ready for the start of the season, Carlton is expected to be spoilt for choice when it comes to big men, something it rarely had the luxury of in 2012.

"We could not get consistently healthy talls last year, so having these guys fit and available is going to be critical for us," forwards coach John Barker said.

"The good thing is all of them who had some small and big issues last year, they are all ready to go."

Carlton ruckman Matthew Kreuzer, Shaun Hampson and Robbie Warnock are capable of playing successfully together in the same side under new coach Mick Malthouse, new Blues midfield coach Rob Wiley says.

"I think the one good thing about those three players is that they're all athletic, they're mobile, and you only have to look at the way Mick selects sides (to know) that those three players can certainly play in the one side," Wiley said.

Carlton ruckman Shaun Hampson is set to miss the rest of the year after injuring his knee against the Pies.

"It is obviously disappointing for Shaun, as well as for the team. Importantly, the surgery will repair the knee and ensure he is available to resume full training prior to Christmas," Carlton general manager of football operations Andrew McKay said.

Carlton's Shaun Hampson has had laser eye surgery over the off-season to correct vision problems.

"I was short-sighted, so I struggled with things in the distance," Hampson said.

"And at night, I really struggled. But I have noticed since the surgery that at night it is much better. I've got perfect vision now. Now it's just a matter of practising marking until my hands fall off."

Carlton has extended the contracts of Shaun Hampson, David Ellard and Dennis Armfield.

"Both Dennis and David have worked extremely hard to cement their place in the senior team this season and we recognise they will play a valuable role in the club's success over the coming years," football operations manager Steven Icke said.

"We were also very keen to re-sign Shaun Hampson, whose improvement, even with a knee injury earlier in the year, has been notable.

"We expect all players to take part in a full pre-season and we look forward to watching them continue their development in 2012."