Shane Mumford was reckless after AFL warning on punches, writes Jon Ralph

Shane Mumford must have missed the memo because the AFL made it clear punches will no longer be tolerated. So what he did in an official practice game was just reckless, writes JON RALPH.

Shane Mumford is unlikely to avoid a suspension for his punch on Sydney’s George Hewitt. Picture: Getty Images

Shane Mumford must have missed the memo.

The AFL didn’t just warn about its crackdown on punches this summer, it went to the AFL Commission to mandate the change.

The message was clear — no longer does any AFL player get the benefit of the doubt over a cheeky gut-punch or a hit that hovers between rough shove and forceful strike.

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So after a summer of contrition over his cocaine snorting, he goes out and punches Sydney’s George Hewett in the head in an official practice match.

It is impossible to think the Greater Western Sydney ruckman will avoid being suspended on Monday afternoon.

And AFL spokesperson Nadine Rabah confirmed that any new suspension would be added to his existing two-week club ban for thatcoke video.

“If a player is found guilty of an offence in a practice match or JLT Community series match that suspension will be served during the home-and-away season,” Rabah said.

“In the case of a player already suspended being found guilty of a reportable offence during a practice match or JLT community series match that suspension will be served in addition to their existing suspensions.”

Shane Mumford faces a suspension for his punch on Sydney’s George Hewitt in a practice match. Picture: Getty Images

In Friday’s incident, Hewett tangled with Mumford and had an arm around him ruckman in a quasi-headlock.

Mumford, an aspiring professional boxer, responded with what is either an extremely forceful shove to the head or a blatant punch, depending on the interpretation.

But where Mumford was once seen as a loveable larrikin, the wiggle room for the “good bloke factor” is long gone for match review officer Michael Christian.

Mumford will be suspended for at least a week, and if Christian wants to set an example he could easily elevate the force to medium given the capacity of the hit to cause serious injury.

Shane Mumford whacked George Hewett high and off the ball in the Swans-Giants practice match. pic.twitter.com/lVy6oYxeni

— 7AFL (@7AFL) February 22, 2019

That means Mumford could miss against Essendon and West Coast, then Richmond (home) and Geelong (GMHBA Stadium).

Toby Nankervis and Rhys Stanley are exactly the kind of opponents Leon Cameron would back Mumford to use his bulk against to overpower under the AFL’s new ruck rules.

Each of those teams is likely to be in the pack pushing GWS for a finals berth.

A mate releasing vision of Mumford snorting coke years ago just as he was to be re-rookied was outside his control.

But whacking an opponent in a practice match that means absolutely nothing in the context of the home-and-away season is just plain reckless.