3 minute read

Shane Mumford is upset with himself after 2015 vision of the ex-AFL player snorting a white substance has appeared online.

Shane Mumford is not in a "great place" after three-year-old footage of the former ruckman snorting a white powder found its way online, sparking an AFL investigation.

Former Australian cricketer and GWS community liaison officer Gavin Robertson said Mumford was suffering after Tuesday's revelation cast doubt on his potential AFL comeback with the Giants next season.

"I know Shane reasonably well," Robertson told Fox Sports.

"He's made a mistake in life but he's not sitting back on a banana chair at home lapping life up.

"He's not in a great place and he's really upset with the choices that he's made."

The Giants were reportedly made aware of the situation on Sunday and soon after contacted Mumford, who appears to have recently returned to Australia from an end-of-season family holiday overseas.

Given the treatment of similar cases involving St Kilda defender Jake Carlisle and Fremantle midfielder Harley Bennell, Mumford likely faces punishment as he admitted the incident took place when he was still an AFL player in 2015.

If Mumford and GWS continue along the path toward his possible AFL relisting, the league could hand the 32-year-old a suspension in the realm of two to three games.

But Robertson backed up the Giants' decision to stand by Mumford after the club announced their under-contract ruck coach would attend a rehabilitation program.

"He's obviously going to go through whatever he needs to go through to make amends," he said.

Mumford, who won a premiership with the Swans in 2012, stayed with the Giants this season after a serious navicular injury forced him to call time on his AFL career at the end of 2017.

Robertson said the premature retirement hit Mumford hard.

"At the time when it went down ... that was not easy for him," Robertson said.

"He was not ready to finish."

Lifeline 13 11 14

beyondblue 1300 22 4636