Giants ruckman Shane Mumford says it’s bitterly “disappointing” to be on the receiving end of two close losses in recent weeks, but believes GWS have turned a corner in the way they play their football.
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The 27-year-old was sound around the ruck, with a game high 37 hit-outs in the 81-66 loss to Essendon on Saturday night, their eighth consecutive defeat. Mumford said, despite the losses, coach Leon Cameron and Giants players are moving in the right direction with their attitude and style of play.
“It is disappointing, but to have got ourselves in a position to win both games after the month that we’ve had before it shows we’re taking a massive step forward,” he said. “If we can continue on with that kind of pressure and playing the game that kind of way, we will start getting the results. It all comes down to the way we were playing and we weren’t happy with that. We had to get back to playing a more selfless game for one another, which we haven’t done. You can see it affecting the result for sure. We’ve got to keep playing for one another and hopefully it’ll turn around.”
Mumford said he “battled pretty well” against Paddy Ryder and Tom Bellchambers around the ruck but gave them a couple of clean hit-outs at pivotal moments in the game.
Brisbane’s eight-point win over the Western Bulldogs on Saturday night means they leapfrog GWS from the bottom of the competition ladder. But, given their inferior for and against percentage, next week presents an opportunity for the AFL’s newest club to draw clear of the dreaded 18th spot on the ladder.
“Every week’s a big week but, after coming off a couple of close losses, we’ve really got to bring that pressure that we have the last couple of weeks and go up there with a focus on beating Brisbane,” Mumford said. “They’ve had a couple of good wins over the last couple of weeks, so they’ll be high on confidence, so we’ve got to take that away from them.”
The 198cm former Swans premiership player said David Myers’ elbow on Devon Smith just before three-quarter-time was uncalled for, even though he didn’t see it live. “I was actually facing the wrong direction when it happened so I’ve only seen it on the replays but it doesn’t look good at all,” Mumford said. “I guess that’s why Wardy obviously didn’t take too kindly to it, so then it was on for young and old.”
