There is only one Shane Mumford, but the former Greater Western Sydney ruckman himself says the Giants needn't worry because his replacements "will step up".
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Mumford was one of the AFL's premier ruckmen during his four-year stint with the Giants and the club would do well to mirror his impact with their replacement.
Rory Lobb is in the box seat to take the reins when the Giants open their season against the Western Bulldogs at Manuka Oval on Sunday.
Mumford has taken on a mentoring role to coach the club's ruck stocks and says Lobb "has got a real challenge on his hands" with Dawson Simpson nipping at his heels and Matt Flynn waiting in the wings.
Lobb stands at 206cm and provides plenty of help up forward but there are doubts surrounding his fitness as he deals with the hangover of repeated groin injuries.
The persistent Simpson boasts a four centimetre height advantage but the 25-year-old is still developing as a ruckman, while Matt Flynn is eyeing an AFL debut.
Whichever option coach Leon Cameron goes with will have a massive bearing on the club's hopes of breaking through for a maiden flag.
"It's a challenge I'm really looking forward to because I've got three young guys under me that are all very willing and ready to have a crack this year," Mumford said.
"The big thing for me is about finding ways to get these young guys up. I've got three different personality types as ruckmen.
"For me, instead of being that 'bang, bang, bang' just telling people how it is on the field, now I've actually got to nurture and care for these guys in a different way.
"The biggest learning curve this year will actually be getting my point across to three different personalities and the best way of doing that."
Mumford's imposing frame was first brought to western Sydney to protect a young brigade of midfielders in 2014, with the club still find its feet at AFL level.
But now he plans on throwing that frame around in the boxing ring with an eye on a professional boxing debut in July, and some of those same onballers have emerged as the competition's shining stars.
Among them is All-Australian duo Dylan Shiel and Josh Kelly, as well as Stephen Coniglio, Callan Ward, and emerging star Tim Taranto.
Mumford retired at the end of last season as a spate of injuries wore him down but the 31-year-old laughs he might find it tough watching from the sidelines following a decade at the top level.
"I think I'm probably going to find it a bit hard, I'll have to contain myself from jumping off the bench and running onto the ground when I see something go wrong," Mumford said.
"We're seeing each year how much these young guys are growing as players and leaders of the football club.
"I know when I got there there wasn't a whole lot of facial hair in the rooms and things were very different but now these young kids are really growing into their bodies. Their leadership is going through the roof.
"I wouldn't have any hesitation in saying that me dropping away is going to take anything away from the group because these guys will step up.
"Expect Rory Lobb, Dawson Simpson, whoever gets a game there, to be really demanding on the midfielders and get the best out of them."
The Bulldogs clash looms as the next chapter in a rapidly-growing rivalry between the two clubs, and Mumford is calling on Canberra fans to "get on board the Giants train" as they look to better consecutive preliminary final finishes.
AFL ROUND ONE
Sunday: GWS Giants v Western Bulldogs at Manuka Oval, 1.10pm. Tickets from Ticketek. TV: Live on Fox Footy.
