Kieren Briggs on waiting for his AFL chance, learning from Shane Mumford and the growth of GWS

As Kieren Briggs came through the junior pathways, he was compared to a young Shane Mumford. Now he’s working with the former Giant and Swan and making his own mark on the AFL.

After years on the outer, Kieren Briggs has emerged as one of the AFL’s best ruckmen. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Before round 10 this season, Kieren Briggs wasn’t quite sure what his future held.

He had been on the Giants’ list for four seasons and only appeared in the AFL on nine occasions.

However, his breakout 2023 season has seen him emerge as one of the best ruckmen in the competition. And his mates have made sure to let him know about it.

“They give me heaps of s--t still,” Briggs said.

“They always used to say I’m a third-string ruckman, they’ve had to come up with other stuff now.”

Briggs’ year has been nothing short of remarkable. Since coming into the Giants’ side for their clash against St Kilda, his numbers have gone to the elite level.

Briggs’ rise has been worth celebrating since his first game of the year in round 10. Picture: Phil Hillyard

And he admits that he wasn’t certain that chance would ever come.

“Weeks in footy come around so quickly so I haven’t really had the time to sit back and say, ‘Woah, it’s all happened’,” Briggs said.

“I had conversations with my manager [about leaving]. But for me, it was an easier decision to stay being from Sydney. I’ve got my partner up here, Mum and Dad are 20 minutes away, and my sister is as well.

“I didn’t look at money or things, I just backed myself in to eventually start playing. I always had the ability but a lot of it comes from belief and continuity at the top level.”

Briggs has always had the belief; he just needed the opportunity. Picture: Graham Denholm/Getty Images

The 23-year-old spent that time on the outer trying to make his game as well-rounded as possible.

While his hit out numbers are more than serviceable, Briggs is the number one ruckman in the competition when it comes to clearances (6.3 per game), centre clearances (2.6) and inside 50s (3.7).

He’s also in the top three for stoppage clearances (3.8), spoils (3.5), tackles (5) and goal assists (0.5).

“He’s been enormous. Ever since he’s come in he’s been really consistent week in and week out,” Giants’ co-captain Josh Kelly said. “What he’s added to our team has been outstanding.”

Impacting the game in more ways than one has always been a target for Briggs, largely inspired by the mentorship of former Giant, and the club’s current ruck and stoppages coach, Shane Mumford.

Mumford has had a massive influence on Briggs’ success. Picture: Phil Hillyard

“In my early days I was compared to Shane as a teenager coming through,” Briggs said.

“I’ve always known I’m not a 200+ cm Jarrod Witts or Max Gawn. I’m not going to get my hand on everything. So, I’ve been told I’m an extra mid, not a ruckman – it’s a bit of a mould on Mummy’s game.

“He’s been my biggest supporter. He’s always known that I have been able to do it.

“He speaks to Kingers (Adam Kingsley) a lot about where I can find little improvements in my game. You’re never a finished product, and if you think you are, you’re probably getting a bit too comfortable.

“He just says I’m Shane with a few more tricks.”

Briggs became just the second Giants Academy product to be drafted to the club in 2018 and his success in the AFL is a testament to the growth of the sport in NSW.

Briggs was identified early as a footy talent, among plenty of other sports including shot put and discus. Picture: Simon Chillingsworth

Growing up in the Hills district, he’s been taken aback at how quickly the sport has expanded in the region and hopes his journey might inspire more youngsters to follow in his path.

“Going back to when I was playing, it was a bit foreign to play AFL,” he said. “Now it’s just common for kids to play AFL as junior footy.

“It’s creating a positive environment at senior level, and not only in men’s but you see the women are constantly improving as well.

“The Giants have been around for 11 or 12 years now, and it’s grown so much in Western Sydney from school camps and visits. You have kids dreaming of playing AFL at the Giants rather than just playing NRL.”

Now he wants to help continue that rise by propelling the Giants back into the finals.

The main goal for Briggs is helping the Giants to even more on-field success. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

That starts with a crucial clash against Essendon on Saturday. While the belief is there that the team can get the job done in 2023, Briggs is now excited about what the future holds for this talented squad.

“We know that everything’s a final now,” he said. “I’ve seen a few things get in Essendon’s head before, ‘They haven’t won a final in how many days’.

“I’m looking forward to having a big off-season this year after hopefully playing finals. I’ve never really had a pre-season per se, so I want a full one to come back a better player, again.

“The game plan that Kingers has brought in this year, you can see over the past months it’s gone well and we’re only going to get better.”

Originally published as Kieren Briggs on waiting for his AFL chance, learning from Shane Mumford and the growth of GWS