Shane Mumford’s ‘staggering’ tackle angers AFL fans

AFL fans have had enough of veteran Shane Mumford’s brutal big hits.

The GWS enforcer had viewers up in arms on Saturday afternoon when he laid a completely unnecessary tackle on North Melbourne‘s Tarryn Thomas.

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The Giants’ had already been awarded a free kick after midfielder Tim Taranto was dumped in a tackle during the second quarter of the clash at Hobart’s Blundstone Arena.

Then after the whistle was blown, Mumford coathangered Thomas, slamming him down into the turf.

“Mumford, hard on Tarryn Thomas!,” Fox Footy commentator Dwayne Russell said.

Fans and experts were astonished that the GWS ruckman didn’t give away a free kick for his clumsy high tackle.

“Not reversed? How is that not reversed?” Western Bulldogs great Brad Johnson asked.

AFL commentator Andy Maher was even stronger, tweeting: “Pure insanity for that FK (free kick) not to be reversed. What are they looking at if they don’t see that?

“Obvious high tackle. Fierce sling to ground. Staggering.”

Then minutes later Mumford avoided another dangerous incident by only a few centimetres.

After his teammate Adam Kennedy caught Jy Simpkin high, Mumford followed through with the tackle.

Then as he tried to get up — while being dragged by Thomas — Mumford‘s forearm landed heavily just above Simpkin’s head.

After seeing the replay and how close Mumford went to collecting the young Kangaroo, Brownlow medallist Gerard Healy quipped “probably lucky he missed”.

Mumford has drawn Match Review attention in previous seasons, successfully overturning a striking ban at the Tribunal in 2019.

Viewers expressed their anger that Mumford continues to get away with his reckless attack on the footy.

Journalist Rohan Connolly wasn’t impressed, tweeting: “Does some pretty s*** stuff, Mumford”.

Meanwhile, GWS midfielder Josh Kelly had an absolute blinder, racking up the disposals and kicking a contender for goal of the year in the last quarter.

Running into the forward pocket, Kelly snapped on his non-preferred right foot to keep GWS in the hunt.