SHANE Mumford was naturally overjoyed Greater Western Sydney notched up a win against his old team on the first attempt, but he's also quick to point out one win does not make a season – even for the Giants.
It took just 120 minutes of football for GWS to equal its win tally from all of 2013 in a stirring 32-point victory over the Sydney Swans that has forced the footy world to instantly sit up and take notice.
Six goals without reply in the final quarter against a battle-hardened Swans outfit gave rise to a theory that these Giants might be ready to arrive a fair bit ahead of schedule.
Yet Mumford, now at his third club, wants to remind his young teammates that all they have done is prove what's possible.
Now they need to keep doing it.
"Obviously it's a massive start, but that's all it is," Mumford told AFL.com.au.
"We can't get ahead of ourselves now.
"We have to come with that same focus and intent every week and, if we do, who knows what can happen?
"The way that the guys fought it out in the wet conditions, to just keep cracking in and getting the contested ball against such a quality team in Sydney, we've set a pretty high standard for ourselves.
"We have to keep playing to that same calibre and keep pushing ourselves and see where we end up."
Already a colossal figure at 198cm and 105kg, Mumford stood just that little bit taller at Spotless Stadium, repeatedly dragging his enormous frame from contest to contest despite the atrocious conditions.
Just his presence alone had already helped his young teammates add a little swagger to their strut, but he showed on the field what he will be able to offer this third-year club.
In an epic battle with his 201cm, 104kg friend and foe in Swans ruckman Mike Pyke, it was Mumford who ultimately won the hitouts (45-34) and the disposal count (13-10).
He also shaded Pyke with seven tackles, five marks, five clearances and five one-percenters.
While he was "over the moon" with the result, Mumford admits he had already sensed during the pre-season a change among his fledgling teammates.
"Definitely, just how hard these guys have worked in the pre-season, I knew they were fit and were going to have a crack," he said.
"We knew some of them would be able to play harder for longer and that's what we did against the Swans.
"We've proven we can do it against one of the best contested teams in the competition."
He is also looking forward to more showdowns with Pyke, the Canadian-born ruckman who learned his trade alongside Mumford in countless hours of training at the SCG.
"He's a big, strong man and he had me covered well and truly in the boundary throw-ins for a fair bit there," Mumford said.
"It was a massive battle in the end and one I look forward to having many times over the next few years."
There is one key area, however, that Mumford concedes he needs work – learning the Giants' theme song.
"I managed to chip in a few words here and there," he said a little sheepishly, "but I probably should've studied up on it a bit more."
