M & J Chickens Player of Round 8Wednesday, May 30, 2018 - 8:14 AM - by Chris Pike

GEORGE Hampson has been the barometer at East Fremantle since arriving from Subiaco in 2015 and on Saturday he just wasn’t going to let the Sharks' losing run continue as he put in a performance that made him a lock to be the M & J Chickens Player of Round 8.

There were plenty of other standout performers too in some difficult conditions in Round 8 of the WAFL.

Subiaco made it seven straight wins with Chris Phelan and captain Kyal Horsley outstanding.

Claremont won its second game of the season with Jye Bolton, Jared Hardisty and Kane Mitchell leading the way through the middle despite the best efforts of South Fremantle's Brock Higgins and Marlion Pickett. 

Swan Districts also beat East Perth with Nathan Blakely and Rhys Palmer tremendous.

But nothing could top the performance of Hampson in East Fremantle's breakthrough 24-point victory against Peel Thunder at East Fremantle in Round 8 for the M & J Chickens Player of the Round nod.

East Fremantle's start to the season had been solid enough with tight losses to Peel and Claremont, and a narrow win over Perth but then things began to head south with hefty defeats at the hands of South Fremantle, Swan Districts, East Perth and West Perth.

Hampson had been fighting against the odds during that stretch against the Sharks and then he went up another gear on Saturday and his teammates followed suit against the Thunder to control the contest most of the afternoon, and then go on and record the strong four-goal victory.

Ever since joining East Fremantle after playing a key role in Subiaco's premiership in 2014 and having won a fairest and best award at the Lions in 2013, when Hampson has played well for the Sharks generally they have been tough to beat.

Whether that's been playing through the midfield or up forward, or a combination of both, when he hasn’t been sidelined through knee or hamstring injuries, he has been a standout player in the competition.

He has continued to show that in 2018 despite the struggles of the team and even got his chance to play in the KIA WAFL State Team's breakthrough victory against South Australia in Adelaide.

Hampson was then nothing short of brilliant in all areas in Saturday against Peel finishing the afternoon with 38 possessions, 13 tackles, 10 inside-50 entries, six marks and a goal.

He will now reach 100 games in the WAFL as East Fremantle look to win consecutive games for the first time since a four-match winning run between Rounds 7-10 back in 2016 in the WA Day Foundation Derby against South Fremantle at Fremantle Community Bank Oval.

M & J Chickens Players of the Round
Round 1 – Rhys Palmer (Swan Districts)
Round 2 – Fraser McInnes (East Perth)
Round 3 – Cody Leggett (Perth)
Round 4 – Shane Nelson (West Perth)
Round 5 – Patrick McGinnity (East Perth)
Round 6 – Marlion Pickett (South Fremantle)
Round 7 – Andrew Strijk (West Perth)
Round 8 – George Hampson (East Fremantle)