Shane Mumford holds key for GWS Giants in knockout final against Western Bulldogs
The GWS Giants face a big task if they’re to keep their AFL season alive. And Mick McGuane reveals the key men who can keep alive their premiership aspirations.
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Shane Mumford needs to understand how important he is to the outcome of tomorrow’s do-or-die final against the Western Bulldogs.
In the 16 matches the big ruckman has played this season, the GWS Giants have won 12.
He is arguably the most influential player in the GWS set-up, simply because he allows the Giants to best maximise their stoppage game, for which they’re ranked No.1 in the AFL.
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But for Mumford and the Giants, there is some baggage to work through.
When ruckman Jordan Roughead went off injured early in the Bulldogs’ epic 2016 preliminary final against the Giants, it shaped as a massive opportunity for Mumford to put the clamps down.
But history tells a different story: Tom Boyd, who was a non-specialist ruckman, managed to equalise the ruck position that night for the Bulldogs, lowering Mumford’s colours, and ultimately the Giants’.
Those things do remain in the memory bank. And so they should.
It can be a driving force, because you don’t want to live that again. Feeling like you let your teammates down when there was a high expectation for you to perform in a big game that matters, is an experience you have to live with forever.
You are rightfully judged on it.
Mumford has already won a premiership with the Sydney Swans, but tomorrow he has a massive opportunity to enhance his CV up against a much smaller opponent, 93kg Tim English from the Bulldogs.
Mumford didn’t play in the recent round 22 meeting where the Bulldogs destroyed GWS by a whopping 61 points — and neither did English.
This is a totally different ball game with them battling it out in the ruck and you would think the bigger bodied frame of Mumford in general play stoppages will gain an advantage which will help the Giants’ scoring.
English might be able to jump over him at centre bounce, so GWS will have to make sure they get to work against the Bulldogs midfield because you don’t’ want to be giving up forward looks to a team that is averaging 116 points over the past four weeks.
But Mumford’s size should be a key factor.
JEREMY CAMERON
Another key star missing from the last start clash between these two sides three weeks ago.
Cameron is in the midst of his career- best season, but he has a forgettable overall record in finals football — kicking a total of just one goal in three losses he has been part of.
Based on his age and profile as the Coleman Medalist and All-Australian key forward, there’s an expectation that this is a great opportunity for him to monster finals.
With all due respect to the Bulldogs, they have a lot of hybrid defenders and the mix of natural talent and height in the Giants forward line could become a really key factor.
Cameron and Jeremy Finlayson are both rated as elite forwards by Champion Data stats and Harry Himmelberg is rated above average.
The synergy of those three and Toby Greene in the forward half is crucial.
MATT DE BOER
Matt de Boer tagged Bulldogs midfielder Marcus Bontempelli three weeks ago and Bontempelli was slightly better. But the message to the Giants is: don’t be once bitten, twice shy.
De Boer has some great scalps this year and he will be fitter now than he was in round 22, which was his first match back from a shoulder injury.
I would tag Bontempelli because he can sting you with just one or two touches and he sees the game better than most in terms of his ball use.
I’d ensure that every time he gets it, it’s got to be a pressured possession.
De Boer has made a name for himself by being a very disciplined, selfless, hard-working and diligent midfielder, who is prepared to sacrifice his own game for the betterment of the team.
Originally published as Shane Mumford holds key for GWS Giants in knockout final against Western Bulldogs
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