The case for and against picking Giants ruckman Shane Mumford in SuperCoach

There’s one big problem with picking Shane Mumford in SuperCoach … he won’t play in the first fortnight. However, he could still be worth the risk. Read the case for and against.

When considering the pros and cons of Shane Mumford’s SuperCoach value in 2019 there’s one big con … he won’t play for the first two weeks of the season.

However, it’s not enough to completely rule him out of your pre-season plans.

Mumford will miss Rounds 1 and 2 through a club-imposed ban, but there are ways around this and the Giants big man’s SuperCoach pedigree and price make him hard to overlook.

But first we should start with the cons because, as we said, it’s a big one.

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THE CASE AGAINST PICKING MUMFORD

HE’S GOING TO MISS 2 WEEKS

Fairly self-explanatory, yes, Shane Mumford is suspended for Round 1 and 2 after a video emerged of him snorting a white substance.

Obviously in SuperCoach we want our big guns firing from the get-go and this isn’t possible if you’re keen on Mumford.

Thus, if you do pick him you’re going to need a bench option or swingman that is playing to ensure you don’t have a zero on the field. Fingers crossed the likes of Darcy Fort, Zac Clarke, Archie Smith or Jordan Sweet suit up for Round 1. This would give you a playing R3 to cover the Mumford doughnut.

Shane Mumford is returning to the AFL. Picture: David Swift

That said, none of these four — at least at this stage — has job security and even if they are picked in Round 1, they could very easily find themselves back in the VFL the following week.

The second option is a swingman such as Justin Westhoff, Nathan Vardy or Rory Lobb.

Having a non-playing Ruck-Forward at R3 — such as Cat Blake Schlensog or Eagle Patrick Bines — would allow you to swing Westhoff, for example, into the ruck to cover Mumford and then easily move him back into the forward line for Round 3.

It will take some careful planning, but Mumford saves you a great deal of cash in comparison to Brodie Grundy and Max Gawn.

WILL HE RUCK ALONE?

Mumford’s been out of the game for a year and if a week is a long time in football, imagine what a whole year is.

The Giants’ ruck department isn’t strong but Leon Cameron probably isn’t keen to throw Mumford in one-out for the entire season given he originally quit because his body was so battered.

Jon Patton is recovering from a knee reconstruction and Rory Lobb has departed for Fremantle, so the pinch-hitting forward option is out at this stage.

Lachie Keeffe can pinch hit but it’s more likely traditional ruckmen Dawson Simpson, Matt Flynn and Kieren Briggs could share duties.

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THE CASE FOR PICKING MUMFORD

HE’S SUPER CHEAP

After a year out of the game the SuperCoach banker valued Mumford at just $320,200.

That’s a big saving for a bloke that started 2017 at $536k and 2016 at a whopping $570,500, a price that would be the fourth-most expensive in the ruck this year.

Mumford is priced to average about 65 SuperCoach points per game and will rise sharply in price if he returned to his past scoring.

Similarly-priced rivals include Tom Boyd, Sean Darcy, Ryan Abbott and Nathan Vardy, who don’t exactly scream “Pick me”.

Shane Mumford at training in his AFL comeback. Picture: Phil Hillyard

HE CAN SCORE LIKE A PREMIUM

Speaking of scoring, Mumford has a rich history of premium SuperCoach scoring.

For seven straight years Mumford averaged 90-plus, with three years of 100-plus averages and a career-best 114 average in 2014.

In his last season of AFL football, Mumford averaged 98, dropping below 70 in four games and pumping out 120 or more six times.

In 2016 he was a picture of consistency, scoring 90-plus 15 times in 21 games.

HE’S SURPRISINGLY DURABLE

Mumford retired in 2017 citing his injuries.

However, he played more than 17 games every season except one since 2009, playing 11 in 2015. In 2016 and 2017 he played 23 and 21 games respectively.

Admittedly, he did suffer a nasty foot injury in GWS’s 2017 qualifying final loss to Adelaide.

Mumford’s role as Giants ruck coach quickly proved he was still capable of playing at the highest level, and the comeback was on.

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Originally published as The case for and against picking Giants ruckman Shane Mumford in SuperCoach