Young GWS ruckman Kieren Briggs praises teammate Shane Mumford after signing new contract
Newly re-signed Giants ruckman Kieren Briggs will always be grateful for the advice Shane Mumford gave him and now wants to prove himself at senior level.
GWS
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Shane Mumford’s no-nonsense delivery triggered a chain of events that has allowed young ruckman Kieren Briggs to breathe down the veteran’s neck while learning from him at every turn.
The 19-year-old Giants academy product agreed a two-year contract extension that will see him remain at the club until at least the end of 2022.
And it means he will have the chance to push and potentially replace “Mummy” in the Giants’ lineup.
Back in late 2017, before any senior contract was in front of him, Briggs ran into Mumford in the kitchen at Giants HQ.
Mummy wasted no time in offering the-then academy hopeful some advice. It stuck.
“I was actually injured at the time,” Briggs said.
“He said to me ‘no matter what your state at the moment, the opportunity you’ve got, don’t leave any stone unturned. Do everything you can to be here next year’.
“It was an eye-opener, what he said stuck in my mind and when I came back, I did everything I could and we got there (drafted in 2018).
“He’s an inspiring role model who has really helped me with my craft and my attitude towards footy, I guess.
“Him and Daws (Dawson Simpson) always talk about going above and beyond, going that extra five per cent to get the most out of everything you do.”
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But admiration doesn’t mean there’s no ambition from Briggs to unseat him.
“That’s the reality of footy,” Briggs said.
“I’ve just got to keep putting my best foot forward, take my chance when it comes and show them what I’m made of.
“I started this year in the forwards (playing NEAFL) in the forwards, basically as there wasn’t the opportunity in the ruck. Unfortunately for Flynny (Matt Flynn) he did his ACL and the pathway opened up for me and I feel my game has been better since I’ve been in there.”