Mumford not thinking about contract ahead of Sandilands battle
Aaron Sandilands, not contract status, on Shane Mumford's mind
SHANE Mumford wouldn’t be drawn on his possible destination next season as the Sydney Swans' off-contract ruckman prepares for his 100th game in Saturday's preliminary final against Fremantle.
Mumford made the decision earlier this year to put off contract talks until the end of 2013 - a similar move to that made by the likes of Lance Franklin, Travis Cloke and Gary Ablett following the introduction of free agency.
Linked with Hawthorn and Greater Western Sydney - who are understood to be ready to offer the ruckman longer, more lucrative deals than what the Swans will table - Mumford could potentially be playing his final game in red and white at Patersons Stadium.
At the same time last year, Mumford's ruck partner in crime Mike Pyke left his contract negotiations until season's end, penning a new two-year deal after the club's premiership victory.
Mumford insists his future beyond this season is the least of his concerns.
"It's not in my mind at all," the 27-year-old told reporters on Tuesday.
"That will all be sorted out at the end of the season. I'm just focusing on footy and playing well each week."
Asked if his preference was to remain a Swan, Mumford played a similarly straight bat.
"Well yeah I'm just looking forward to playing footy," he said.
"We've got a prelim final this weekend so I'm just focusing on footy 100 per cent and then I'm sure it will all sort itself out at the end of the year."
Mumford's decision to put all his energies into this weekend's game is fair enough considering the size of the task at hand.
It's rare for the 198cm, 104kg ruckman to ever find himself physically outmatched, but that is certainly the case when it comes to his opponent this weekend – Fremantle's 211cm, 120kg monster Aaron Sandilands.
There is also another strange anomaly that will have Mumford doing some extra homework on Sandilands this week.
Below: Shane Mumford (right) with teammates during the week.
The two haven't faced each other since way back in 2009, when a 22-year-old Mumford was in his second and final season with Geelong.
In the past five matches between the Swans and Dockers dating back to 2010, one ruckman has lined up in the centre circle while the other has been sidelined.
Mumford wasn't too keen to give his strategy away, but while he gives up size and weight to the Freo tap man, he feels he has an advantage with his fitness.
“The same as we do every week, we sit down with the ruck coach (Steve Taubert) and go through opponents and discuss possible ways of beating him," Mumford said.
"It’s going to be a bit harder with his size, but nothing changes week-to-week.
"I don't want to give too much away, but I'll definitely be trying to work him around the ground and make him chase me a fair bit.
"I've probably got a little bit better tank than he does.
"So hopefully between me and Pykey, we can run him into the ground and wear him out by half-time."-