Former AFL premiership player Shane Mumford filmed snorting drugs off a table
FORMER GWS ruckman Shane Mumford is bound for a drug rehabilitation program — casting doubt on his comeback bid — after he was filmed snorting drugs in a rowdy video.
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FORMER GWS ruckman turned ruck coach Shane Mumford has been filmed snorting a large amount of white powder in a rowdy video.
The video shows a shirtless Mumford, a premiership player, seated in front of five lines of a white substance on a coffee table, as a number of other men chant his nickname — “sausage”— in the background.
Mumford waves a hand at the camera phone before leaning over the powder and inserting a rolled up paper in his nose.
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He then points to the thickest line of powder and snorts the substance into one nostril.
“Oh my god, oh my f.....g god,” one man can be heard saying.
GWS spokeswoman Alison Zell said Mumford had expressed “deep remorse” and was embarrassed by his actions.
The club said it believed the footage was taken three years ago at a time Mumford was suffering from a season-ending injury.
In a statement to the Herald Sun, Ms Zell said the club was “extremely distressed” by the footage and that Mumford would be assisted to go through rehab.
“The Giants are aware of an incident, and associated video footage, regarding Shane Mumford from three years ago,” she said.
“The club understands the incident took place in 2015 shortly after Shane had suffered a season-ending injury in round 11 that year.
“The club is extremely distressed by the footage and views Shane’s actions as completely counter to the club’s values.
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“The club is disappointed in Shane’s choice of actions at this time and also understands that Shane requires a level of medical support with his health and wellbeing in mind. The club will be working with Shane to ensure he engages in a rehabilitation program along with a range of other measures.
“Shane has expressed deep remorse, embarrassment and distress in relation to his actions. He understands he has let himself, his family and the club down and caused great embarrassment to those around him.
“The club has kept the AFL informed of this matter.”
After Mumford snorts the substance, the video shows several men bowing down to him, dropping to their knees in praise, before he sticks his tongue out at the camera.
They can be heard chanting “sausage”, a reference to Mumford’s moniker “Shane Sausage Mumford”.
The nickname goes back to his footy days at Geelong when teammates would joke that he would eat dozens of snags at BBQs.
Mumford, 32, is understood to have been eyeing a comeback to AFL but the scandal could scuttle any deal.
Mumford only retired at the end of the 2017 season due to a degenerative foot injury that saw him believing he was unable to play the game again.
He was hired as the Giants’ ruck coach ahead of the 2018 season after calling time on his career after 172 games with Geelong, Sydney and GWS.
The Herald Sun recently revealed he was seriously considering an AFL return after his foot issue improved and he was throwing around teammates at training with his impressive form.
The Giants can secure him in any of the national, pre-season or rookie drafts next month, and given their ruck issues desperately need a player of his experience.
The AFL is attempting to find out exactly when the video was shot and distributed.
As an AFL club official, Mumford is subject to an AFL code of conduct and could be investigated for conduct unbecoming if the video is proven to have been taken this year.
AFL players are subject to an illicit drugs code which means their first drug strike is concealed as they under undertake education and counselling.
Theoretically GWS would not be prevented from drafting Mumford in next month’s national draft but from a perception standpoint it would be an extremely challenging decision.
Mumford has undergone a physical transformation to become a professional boxer, knocking out opponent Kyle Brumby in his professional debut in Melbourne mid-year.
He had planned to conduct his second bout in November, with his boxing manager Ricky Nixon attempting to set up his next opponent.
Originally published as Former AFL premiership player Shane Mumford filmed snorting drugs off a table