SHANE Mumford's return to football will be delayed another week, with the veteran Giants ruckman suspended for one match for striking Sydney midfielder George Hewett.

Despite the incident occurring in an unofficial practice match on Friday morning, Mumford will serve his one-match suspension during the home and away season.

It means he will be unavailable for selection for the first three games of the year, having already been set to miss the first two matches of the campaign due to a club-imposed ban for the infamous white powder video that surfaced late last year.

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The ban cannot be served concurrently with his club-imposed suspension.

A screenshot of the Mumford-Hewett incident.

Mumford had collected Hewett with a swinging arm to the head with just minutes remaining in the final quarter of the practice game.

The incident was seen by Match Review Officer Michael Christian as intentional contact, with low impact to the head, equating to a one-match suspension.

Mumford was making his return to football following a year out of the game – having retired following the conclusion of the 2017 season – but also from a hamstring setback sustained over Christmas. He played just the second half of the scratch match.

He was recruited back to the club as a rookie in December last year.

Greater Western Sydney takes on Essendon, West Coast and Richmond to start the year.

In another incident, Gold Coast youngster Jack Bowes will also be forced to pay a $1500 fine for striking Brisbane defender Alex Witherden during a practice match on Saturday.