Shane Mumford will have his hands full against Freo. Source: Ryan Pierse / HeraldSun
It won't be just high kicking Shane Mumford needs when he takes on the biggest man in the AFL Aaron Sandilands in Saturday night's preliminary final against Fremantle in Perth.
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At 211cm and 120kg Sandilands towers over the Swans big man.
But Mumford has a plan to curb the Fremantle ruckman's physical advantages.
"I'll be trying to get him around the ground and try to make him work," Mumford said.
"He's got me by about 12cm and 15kg, (so) for me to move him is a pretty tough thing to do but I'm really looking forward to the challenge.
"I think I've got a little bit better tank than him and hopefully me and Pykey (Mike Pyke) can run him into the ground and wear him out by half-time."
Mumford's combination with former Canadian rugby player Mike Pyke has developed into one of the best in the competition.
Mumford is back to his best form since he finished runner up to Kieren Jack in the 2010 Bob Skilton Medal.
Pyke has followed up his outstanding Grand Final performance with his best season yet, finishing second in the AFL for contested marks (52) and kicking 27 goals.
"It's pretty safe to say he's more of an AFL player than he ever was a rugby player - I don't think he was that good anyway," Mumford said.
"He almost unlucky not to make All Australian ... his year was sensational.
"I think the partnership we've formed now is probably one of the tougher ones in the league.
"Credit to him the way he goes about his footy and he's always looking for ways to improve. It's not a shock that he's taken the leaps and bounds he has."
Pyke and Mumford will need to combine well if the Swans are to have any chance of upsetting the Dockers, who will have the benefit of a week's rest and being on their home ground.
"Anything can happen in a prelim. It's a pretty big game whether you've had the weekend off or a hard game of footy you're going to be doing everything you can to get yourself right," Sandilands said.
"I'm feeling really good about this week and the body is feeling fresh."
Pyke and Mumford's responsibilities won't stop with ruck duties.
With star full-forward Kurt Tippett out with a knee injury, the big men will also be spending plenty of time up forward.
"The way we played on the weekend once Kurt went down I think I only came off the ground for a minute of the game," Mumford said.
"I definitely think I'll be spending a bit of time forward as well as in the ruck because it's a pretty tough gig and I doubt I'd be able to go for the whole game running around in the ruck."
Mumford is out of contract and remains noncommittal about his future at the Swans beyond this season.
His good form is attracting plenty of interest from other clubs including cross-town rivals the GWS Giants.
"It's not in my mind at all - that will be sorted out at the end of the season so I'm just focusing on footy and playing well each week," Mumford said.
The preliminary final in Perth will be Mumford's 100th game in the AFL after playing 21 for Geelong and 88 for Sydney.
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