LEADERSHIP doesn't come naturally to Shane Mumford, but Greater Western Sydney's marquee signing is challenging himself to show the way for his new young teammates in 2014.
 
Last year's recruiting drive netted the Giants decorated former Cat Josh Hunt, talented ex-Collingwood defender Heath Shaw and a young gun in Jed Lamb, among others.
 
But former Sydney Swan Mumford might just trump them all in terms of his importance and what he can bring to the third-year club.
 
A giant of a man who can impose himself on contests and add a new dimension to the GWS line-up, Mumford was quickly voted into its six-man leadership group.
 
The premiership-winning ruckman has revealed, however, it wasn't a straightforward decision for him to accept the honour.
 
"It was something I had to actually think about, whether it was something I wanted to do," Mumford told AFL.com.au.
 
"I've always been a bit of a quieter guy that didn't have to speak up at meetings and around the club (during his four years at the Swans).
 
"When (GWS coach) Leon (Cameron) approached me I was a little bit hesitant at the start.
 
"But I sat down and had a good think about it and I really think it's going to be beneficial for me and the young group.
 
"There aren't too many older guys here. I've had a bit more experience than them and hopefully I can teach them a bit that I've learned."
 

The Giants will announce their jumper numbers next week and it's understood none of the new recruits have taken the number of an established teammate.
 
Shaw, for example, wore No.39 at Collingwood, but won't be taking that number from Tim Mohr, who has worn it over his two seasons as aG iant.
 
Mumford will again stick with No.41, the number he has worn throughout his career with Geelong, the Swans and now GWS.
 
But while he will be donning a familiar number, he intends to be a different man with his third team.
 



Star ruckman Shane Mumford is excited about the year ahead at his new club. Picture: GWS

Surrounded by so much veteran talent at the Cats and Swans, Mumford didn't feel the need to make his voice heard.
 
But it's a different situation at GWS.
 
"Leadership's not something that's always come naturally to me," Mumford admitted.
 
"It's going to be a great challenge for me out on the ground and speaking up more will help me off the field as well.
 
"When I played against the Giants, one of the things I noticed was the lack of talk all over the ground, compared to the other two clubs I'd been at.
 
"At the Swans the backmen were continually talking, the midfielders were setting things up, whereas I felt the Giants maybe didn't have that.
 
"They didn't have a Jude Bolton or a Ryan O'Keefe setting things up.
 
"That's one thing I've really been pushing this pre-season, just making sure everyone's on the same page and getting that voice up.
 
"When you're talking, it makes your football much easier.
 
"If we get that right, I'm sure it'll help us this year."
 
While the new recruits will undoubtedly help GWS in 2014, Mumford also expects a big lift from the club's third-year players, a group that includes Adam Treloar, Dylan Shiel, Stephen Coniglio and Curtly Hampton.
 
"I know for me personally, my third year was one of my better years," he says.
 
"It just takes a few years for the body to get used to the AFL."
 
At 198cm and 104kg, Mumford certainly has the body for Australian football and he can't wait to start throwing his big frame around when the season gets underway.
 
He is also happy to talk up his new club's chances of knocking off the Swans when they come head to head at Giants Stadium in round one.
 
"Last year against the Swans in the pre-season, the Giants ended up winning," he said of GWS' upset 24-point NAB Cup victory in Blacktown.
 
"I don't see any reason why we can't beat them.
 
"We're going out there to win every week and I'm sure we won't be holding anything back."