Shane Mumford could be used as a forward but first he must beat striking charge at AFL Tribunal

GWS could unleash Shane Mumford in a shock new position against heavyweights Richmond, if the star enforcer can escape suspension at Wednesday night’s tribunal hearing.

Shane Mumford has a laugh during the Giants’ scratch match against Sydney.

GWS could unleash Shane Mumford in a shock new position against heavyweights Richmond, if the star enforcer can escape suspension at Wednesday night’s tribunal hearing.

Mumford will be represented at league headquarters in Melbourne by experienced legal counsel Adrian Anderson, the man credited as the architect of the modern tribunal system from his time in the AFL front office.

The Giants are quietly confident they can win Mumford a downgrade on his striking charge, with Anderson expected to argue the incident should be considered careless or reckless rather than intentional, and the impact to Sydney midfielder George Hewett was more worthy of a fine than a one-match ban.

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With Mumford already banned from the first two rounds after a club-imposed sanction for his appearance in an old unsavoury video, Wednesday night’s finding could have a major impact on the Giants’ season.

If the 32-year-old can overcome the AFL’s crackdown on contact with the head and make himself a free man for the Round 3 blockbuster against the Tigers, GWS may consider a bold new positional strategy aimed at getting Mumford and fellow ruckman Dawson Simpson on the field at the same time.

Giants coach Leon Cameron has confirmed that he would seriously look at playing Mumford in a regular resting role at full forward allowing Simpson to play as the first ruck.

Shane Mumford could be used as a key forward. Picture: Toby Zerna

The club feels the bold strategy could help them make the most of the new ruck rules for 2019.

Mumford has kicked just 52 goals in his 172 AFL matches, but in his comeback out of retirement, he could be set for an unprecedented amount of game time in the forward line.

“Yeah, definitely we’ll look at that,” Cameron told The Daily Telegraph.

“Having a good ruck position is what everyone is ultimately aiming for. It doesn’t mean it’s make or break because you can go in with one ruck, you can go in with two.

“We’ve seen sides that have gone in with smaller players as their second ruck. That’s what this next four weeks will be about, exploring that.

“(Mumford) did everything we asked (in the trial against Sydney).”

Shane Mumford kicks for goal at GWS training. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Mumford spent time up forward in the trial at Blacktown and will no doubt be working harder on his set shot kicking than he perhaps has in the past.

However, with Mumford already out of the first two rounds of the season proper, the Giants appear increasingly unlikely to play him in this Saturday night’s JLT Series trial, again against the Swans.

Instead, the Giants will look to taper Mumford’s lead into the season where he will attempt to nurse through a body that had broken down when he originally decided to hang up the boots after the 2017 season.

It’s unlikely Mumford will play every match this season, and his potential move forward could also help preserve his body for the long haul.

Cameron was impressed with Mumford’s comeback against the Swans, and now must decide when next to give him match practice.

“You know a big part of his game is that second and third efforts, which we’ve seen (already),” he said.

“He would have been a bit nervous because he hadn’t played in 18 months. It was good to get a half under his belt.

“We’re still undecided on whether he has any JLT action knowing he’s not playing in those first two rounds. We’ll decide that as the weeks go on.

“We’re really rapt his ruck work was really good and his general play at ground level was pleasing.”