GWS has a decision to make on veterans Shane Mumford and Heath Shaw

The GWS Giants are securing all their young stars, with Josh Kelly the latest signature, but at some point they will need to make a decision on veterans Shane Mumford and Heath Shaw.

GWS might be confidently ticking through the contracts for all their silver bullets, but at some point the focus will shift to golden oldies Shane Mumford and Heath Shaw.

Giants’ superstar Josh Kelly pointed to the strength of the club’s culture and the lure of creating history for convincing him to knock back bigger offers from Melbourne clubs to re-sign in western Sydney.

Club powerbrokers are confident the club will in turn secure the services of their other off-contract sensation Stephen Coniglio for the same reasons, but the two vice-captains aren’t the only recruitment decisions ahead of GWS in 2019.

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Midfielder Adam Tomlinson is firmly on the radar of rival clubs, while injured forward Jon Patton has also been linked elsewhere.

However, perhaps most intriguing of all will be the call the Giants make on veterans Mumford, 32 and Shaw, 33, who have both wound back the clock and been outstanding in the early weeks of the competition.

Shaw will play his 300th game this season, fitness allowing, but admitted he’d be tempted to go around for one more year in 2020 and surpass the Shaw family record of 313 career games by uncle, Tony.

Mumford’s prospects beyond this season rely very much on how his body holds up given he has returned from an injury-forced retirement – but if his knee and ankle hold up well, it would seem a shame to put all that effort into a comeback for just one year.

GWS feel they have the salary cap space to keep their stars – both young and old – but when it comes to Mumford and Shaw it will come down to a wait and see in the second half of the season.

Kelly, who as revealed by The Daily Telegraph, was announced on a new deal by the Giants, said Mumford and Shaw have stood up as key ingredients in GWS’ premiership bid, despite outside doubts over whether father time had caught up with them.

“Outstanding. The footy Shawy has been playing has been really outstanding, he's really locked down a post in the backline,” said Kelly.

“I don't know if anybody had any doubts on him going into the year, but he's proven them wrong.

“Then Mumford, the way he's come back and had an impact straight away on our side, it's kind of like he'd never left.

“He’s just had an impact. He’s physical, he leads from the front and
you want to jump on his back when he's playing the footy he is and
having the impact he is.

“It’s great for the club and if we can keep them tracking the way they've been over the first six rounds then we're in for a good year.”

Heath Shaw is keen to have another season in 2020. Picture: AAP

Shane Mumford has been outstanding in his AFL comeback. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Giants chief executive David Matthews said the club remained in a strong position with Coniglio.
“I think the discussions there are ongoing, (list manager) Jason McCartney is doing a
fabulous job,” Matthews told AAP.
“Clearly Stephen is a priority for us. He's been here since day one. He’s a fantastic leader on and off the field. He's seen as a future captain. Those discussions will just progress as they need to.

“There's no pressure from our end. He’s playing unbelievable football and we're
confident that he'll see – as Josh has – that this is a place he wants to commit to.”