From Bunyip to the big time

Sydney Swans star Shane Mumford’s career began in Bunyip. Picture ROMAN KULKEWYCZ

By Bridget Scott
BARBECUE binges are a thing of the past for Bunyip’s Shane Mumford, whose AFL dream will become reality this weekend.
Lining up for the Sydney Swans against Hawthorn in the grand final this week, Mumford is proving his disbelievers wrong in the best possible fashion.
One man who knew he had the talent all along was Alan Wright, a former president of Mumford’s junior club, Bunyip.
When Alan Wright took the reins at Bunyip in 2004 Mumford was just 15 years old but already stood at least six feet tall.
As the year’s progressed so did his talent, allowing the ruckman to play in the 2006 losing senior grand final team against Nyora as a 17-year-old.
“He was a player when I started at Bunyip, and played in the senior premiership team in 2006,” Wright said.
“He was an instrumental player and he was only 17.”
Also a talented basketballer, Mumford decided his passion was football and decided to see where it would take him.
After making it into the VFL team at Geelong the recruiters turned him away, telling him to get a year’s experience at Frankston.
Rejection didn’t sit well with the Bunyip big man, who used the following summer to turn his life around.
The boy once famous for eating 20 sausages at a barbecue fronted up to Frankston 20 kilograms lighter, forcing Geelong to change its mind and invite him back to the club.
After a break-out year with the Cats in 2009, Sydney made him an offer he couldn’t refuse.
The tall ruckman will be a key player for the Swans as the side attempts to trump the Hawks.
Wright said the entire town was excited to see him play, with the buzz continuing from Bunyip’s own EDFL premiership two weeks ago.
“No doubt people are excited, especially after we have just had a win,” he said.
“Everybody is going to be watching very closely.
“He still has a big impact on the town.”
Current Bunyip president Darrell Wilkinson said he was tipping a big crowd at Saturday’s Big Bucks Bonanza event at the clubrooms.
“We’ll be watching the game on the big screen and I expect anyone who doesn’t barrack for Hawthorn will be cheering for the Swans,” he said.