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Stoic GWS ruck Mumford backed to back up

3 minute read

GWS coach Leon Cameron has praised Shane Mumford's stoicism in what has been the veteran ruckman's third AFL season since coming out of retirement.

Giants coach LEON CAMERON
Giants coach LEON CAMERON Picture: Jason McCawley/Getty Images

GWS are confident veteran ruckman Shane Mumford's "destroyed" body can withstand a six-day break and consecutive AFL finals.

Mumford is into the third season of a remarkable comeback, having first retired at age 31 and spent an entire year coaching at the club because of a degenerative ankle problem.

The battering ram has played 13 games in 2021, with the Giants ensuring he has enjoyed regular breaks and never played more than two games in a row.

The nature of knock-out finals mean GWS coach Leon Cameron and club medicos haven't mapped out a similar management plan for September.

Mumford, who last week told AAP his "body is well and truly destroyed" then tackled Sydney with typical aggression, could yet be a last-minute scratching from Friday night's semi-final in Perth.

But Cameron noted on match eve that everything points to the 35-year-old aspiring boxer facing former club Geelong.

"He's pulled up quite well," Cameron said.

"He's stoic, he's so huge for us. He's dealing with a back (injury), his knees.

"We're just cut-throat every week, it's pointless if you look at 'if we don't play Mummy this week, he's right for next week'.

"If we're good enough to get through then we'll deal with whatever that serves up.

"We'll give him every chance to play. Equally, if he doesn't get up then Kieren Briggs will play."

The Giants have called up Bobby Hill, Conor Stone and Tanner Bruhn in place of Toby Greene (suspension), Tom Green (broken arm) and Sam Reid (hamstring).

Geelong recalled Zach Tuohy, Esava Ratugolea and Max Holmes in place of hamstrung Mark O'Connor and dumped duo Luke Dahlhaus and Sam Simpson.

Cats coach Chris Scott is confident his side will improve on an alarming qualifying-final loss to Port Adelaide.

"Over a long period of time we've been able to bounce back from poor performances and not let them bleed into multiple bad weeks," Scott said.

Scott backed "relaxed" star recruit Jeremy Cameron to handle the hype associated with his first match against former side GWS.

GWS counterpart Leon Cameron joked the GWS life member may fall into old habits and kick the football to former teammates.

"He's a wonderful player," Cameron said of his namesake.

"No doubt there'll be some emotions from him and also our group."

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