Why Shane Mumford is playing on for another year at GWS and his future goal for the Giants
Shane Mumford has been holding up the Giants’ ruck. But with a key off-season arrival and the club developing their own talent, he’ll have plenty of help taking GWS forward in 2020.
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Shane Mumford is hungry to help the Giants develop ruck stocks that are the envy of the AFL.
The 33-year-old will play on for another season and while he says ‘never say never’, 2020 likely looms as his final campaign as a player.
But it certainly won’t be the end of his Giants journey, with a two-year contract as a ruck coach set to kick in once he calls it a day.
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Mumford carried much of the ruck load last season, playing 20 games for the Giants as injuries to others limited the opportunities of resting him.
The arrival of another experienced ruckman in former Adelaide Crow Sam Jacobs will see that load lighten in the season ahead, to Mumford’s delight.
And with 2018 draft pick Matt Flynn expected to be fit in May (after an ACL injury) and Kieren Briggs (a SuperCoach forward cheapie option) pushing hard, the ruck picture looks considerably brighter for the 2020 campaign.
While Mumford is determined to make every moment count in his remaining time as a player, there’s clearly one eye on the future.
“Hand the baton on and have our ruck stocks right up there with the best in the league. That’s the aim,” he told The Saturday Telegraph.
“Flynny’s already telling me that he’ll be taking my or Sauce’s (Jacobs) spot when he’s fit and that’s great to hear with Briggsy pushing hard as well.”
Many had expected Mumford to call time on his playing career after the Giants’ Grand Final defeat to Richmond but, having already retired once in his career, ‘Mummy’ was wary of making a hasty call.
“I ummed and aahed for a few weeks as to what I wanted to do,” he said.
“The football club were keen on me going round again and you’re looking at (2020 being) another exciting year with Cogs (Stephen Coniglio) and Wardy (Callan Ward) coming back.
“It’s hard to call time on your career. It came into my mind with what happened the first time (Mumford initially retired in 2017 due to injury) and I didn’t want to put myself in that same position.”
For now, the ruck role will be a fight (or shared experience) between Mumford and Jacobs.
“I think it’s going to be great for the both of us. It’s (sharing the load) only going to help our old bodies,” Mumford laughed.
Mumford, who has helped prepare the club’s AFLW side for their opening game of the new season against the Gold Coast Suns, believes the options for coach Leon Cameron have never looked brighter.
“I’d hate to be one of the guys on the selection panel because at the moment we’ve got a whole lot of guys putting their hands up for round one,” he said.
Round 1 in 2021 could yet see the Giants kicking off their campaign in the US with California a possible destination.
Mumford is all for it, but why wait?
“Bring it forward, make it this season,” he laughed.
“No, I think you look at any opportunity to grow the game, whether here or overseas.”