When Sydney signed Lance Franklin, the big question was which players would be moved on to make room on the salary cap.
One of the players was Shane Mumford. The premiership player fell victim and was quickly snapped up by cross town rivals Greater Western Sydney.
At the time it was seen as a very good signing, for it gave them a physical presence and a mature body. After 14 rounds, it has been the best signing of the season.
Mumford has not only been the standout ruckman this season, but deserves more recognition than what he will get come season’s end.
There is no question that Gary Ablett Jnr is the best player in the competition. However the Leigh Matthews trophy is awarded to the most valuable player. This is the player that influences games more than any other, and the outcome of the game is determined by that individual’s performance.
It is for that reason alone that Shane Mumford should be voted the Leigh Matthews trophy winner.
Ruckmen have been somewhat dismissed this season. Ironically, Leigh Matthews himself said that ruckmen are overrated and their hit-outs mean nothing.
Yet Mumford is the king of the big men and his influence on games has been greater than any other player.
Statistically, among ruckmen, he is averaging the most hit outs (43), tackles (6.5) and one percenters (4), while he is also averaging 2.6 clearances (seventh), 13.1 disposals (fourth) and 124.5 champion data points.
However stats are only one part. The fact is that when Mumford plays, GWS are not only a better team, but they win games.
In the seven games he has played at full fitness, GWS have won four and lost three by an average of 10 points. In the five games he missed through injury, and the game against Richmond where he was underdone and rushed back, they have lost by an average of 65 points.
It also shows in his own champion data points, where he has scored more than 110 every game, except for that Richmond game where he scored 40.
Clearances have been a major factor in GWS’s wins this season. With Mumford, they average 47 clearances compared to 36 when he doesn’t play. In their four wins this season, they have averaged 53.
The young midfield of Adam Treloar, Lachie Whitfield, Dylan Shiels and the experience of Callan Ward have fed off Mumford’s ability to win the hit out.
Treloar in particular has been a benefactor, averaging 120 champion data points when Mumford plays compared to 97.
The physicality that Mumford has provided GWS has been infectious. His 6.5 tackles are those of a midfielder and has him ranked eighth in the competition.
As a team they have averaged 73 tackles, which ranks them fourth in the competition. The ability to create stoppages has allowed Mumford to dominate games, especially in the wet conditions early in the season.
Ruckmen take time to mature and Mumford is a classic case. He struggled for consistency in his time at Geelong, yet flourished when he moved to Sydney. In that time, he was regarded as one of the best all-round ruckmen.
However, he was forced to share the duties with Mike Pyke last year and injuries affected his output.
The decision to recruit Mumford has been a masterstroke for GWS. After missing out on Franklin, they needed a boom recruit that would help them win games and Mumford has certainly done that.
The Leigh Matthews trophy is one of the few peer-voted awards in the AFL. The Brownlow has long been regarded as the pinnacle of individual medals, but players hold the MVP award just as close, if not closer, as it is judged by their peers.
With Gary Ablett having another season of excellence, it is very easy to simply pen the award to him now.
However Mumford has taken this team of kids on his own back and turned them into a competitive side. In the first two seasons they won total of four games, feat they have already equalled this year.
With another few years of maturing bound to happen, Mumford will hopefully get another crack at adding a second premiership medal to his cabinet.
For this season, however, Mumford deserves individual honours. The honour of winning the Leigh Matthews MVP may not sit comfortably with him or others that believe Ablett deserves it, yet when you look at the award in its simplest format, Mumford is a clear winner.
Dalgety Carrington
Guest
To a team like the Giants he's invaluable and has obviously made a huge difference, but he might not make as big a difference to a team that already has a physical big man. Or to a team that's developed a style that is well moulded to their strengths and weaknesses. It reminds me a lot of Ablett going to the Gold Coast. People thought he would struggle going to a weaker team and were astounded by how much better he was playing. But my theory is, for really good players, playing in a weaker team gives a lot of certainty in how you play footy, you need to take charge and you also get a lot more opportunities to shine.
Joel Clarke
Roar Pro
Fair point that he hasn't played all games, however every game he has played, he has been top 3 player. The games he didn't play increase his importance to the fortunes of GWS. If he continues his form for the entire season, the number of top quality games he plays will be equal to anyone. His champion data ranking points are phenomenal for a ruckman. Lowest score of 112. Take the Richmond game and he would be the highest ranked player on average. I think this best sums it up "But, evidenced by the Giants' better efforts when he is fit, Mumford's monetary value per game – another thing measured by Aphex – is higher than others on the list." The mark of a player is their ability to make others better and Mumford does that more than any other player.
Gecko
Guest
Kick-to-kick talks above about 'statistical impact' but Joel quite rightly measures Mumford's 'inspiration'. Actually I think Joel undersells this. Mumford's bumps and tackles have a far stronger psychological effect on opposition midfielders than any tackles by Del Santo et al. His aggression around clearances clears paths that most of GWS's young midfielders could not clear. But Kick-to-kick is right that Mumford just hasn't played enough games this year to challenge for Most Valuable Player. If he one year plays a full season, he could probably build enough fitness to crash even more packs and lay even more 105 kg tackles per game. We'd all love to see that.
Josh
Expert
I read that same AFL article and my immediate thoughts were that Mumford has definitely been the biggest impact in games he has played. GWS have 4 wins, I think all in games he has played in? I doubt they'd be at half of that without him, he's been A-Class.
kick to kick
Guest
Mumford has been a really good pick up. But not the best transfer of the season. Franklin, Dal Santo, Bernie Vince, Dom Tyson. Jared Polec have all had statistically more consistent impact for their clubs as AFL.com.au noted this week http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-06-24/whos-the-recruit-of-the-year. That's mostly because Mumford is prone to injury and has only really played half the games so far. In games he plays he may be the top recruit. However his injury record was , beside the salary cap, one reason Sydney was constrained in its offer to keep him. Don't get me wrong I love big Mummy as a heart and soul player and he's great for the Giants whom I wish well. But his lack of durabilty over the past 2 seasons places a question mark over his ranking.