GWS ruck stalwart Shane Mumford has decided to end his AFL career for a second time.

Mumford had been weighing up his future since the Giants’ finals exit in September.

It was expected the 35-year-old would call it quits but delayed the announcement until Friday.

Mumford, who started his AFL career at Geelong in 2008, became one of the most consistent, physical and intimidating big men in the game.

He bows out after 216 games with the Cats, Sydney Swans and the Giants, after initially retiring in 2017 due to a serious foot injury.

After a year as GWS’ ruck coach in 2018, where he also started a professional boxing career, Mumford felt fit enough to return to the field in 2019.

“Over 200 AFL games in the physical manner and the position in which Shane played is a wonderful achievement,” GWS football boss Jason McCartney said.

“From the rookie list to 13 seasons at the elite level, including a premiership, Shane has achieved a lot in his career.

“He arrived at our club in just our third season, and he has had a monumental impact on our club.”

Mumford will revert back to his role as a ruck coach at the Giants next season.

ROOS CUT BIG NAME RECRUIT

North Melbourne’s prized $3.5m recruit Jared Polec has been delisted by the club in a shock move announced on Friday.

Polec left Port Adelaide for the Roos at the end of 2018 on a lucrative five-year deal.

But he fell out of favour under new coach David Noble in 2021, and was dropped to the VFL.

In a statement, North Melbourne pledged to take Polec in next month’s Rookie Draft.

“Once we get past the national draft, we’ll call Jared’s name out in the rookie draft,” North’s footy boss Brady Rawlings said.

“Jared’s cooperation with this list option has been appreciated and will not affect his opportunities at AFL level in any way.”

The decision to delist Polec means the club now takes picks 1, 20, 42, 47, 72 and 77 into next month’s AFL Draft.

REID EXTENDS HIS DEAL

Premiership forward Sam Reid has signed a one-year contract extension with AFL club Sydney after another injury-marred season.

Reid managed 10 games in 2021, having been part of the Swans’ group of injured players who initially remained in NSW when the AFL side fled because of COVID-19 cases.

The 29-year-old tweaked his calf after playing the opening six rounds of the season.

Reid was drafted by the Swans in 2009 and played in the side that won the 2012 grand final, making a name for his capacity to clutch contested marks.

Reid signed a five-year contract extension in 2011 then a four-year deal in 2017.

The Victorian’s future was up in the air throughout trade period but he and small forward Ben Ronke, who the Swans are also backing to turn a corner after injury woes, have now finalised one-year deals.

“Sam’s flexibility to play a variety of roles for us is really valuable,” Swans football manager Charlie Gardiner said.

“He brings experience and leadership to our younger players and with a better run of luck with injury, we believe he can be an important player for us next season.”

Irishman Barry O’Connor has also signed a one-year deal, while 2014 Rising Star winner Lewis Taylor has been shifted to the club’s rookie list.