Greater Western Sydney signing Shane Mumford is one of the biggest losers of Sydney's nine-year deal with Lance Franklin, but the ruckman insists he holds no ill will toward the Swans.
Mumford on Wednesday agreed to a three-year deal with GWS, with the Swans unable to stump up a respectable offer after investing so much in Franklin's contract worth over $10 million.
Hawthorn were keen to sign the 27-year-old, but he wanted to live in Sydney and as such was left with one option.
If there was any lingering resentment at having to move from a premiership force to a side that recorded just one victory in 2013, largely because of Franklin, Mumford did well to hide it on Thursday.
"It was a massive shock, no one saw that one coming," Mumford said of Franklin's recruitment.
"We sort of realised that with the amount of money he's going to be getting, there's probably not going to be anything there for me.
"Mid-year I probably wasn't playing my best footy and it (contract talks) was put off till the end of the year.
"And I still thought it was probably going to happen, (but) in the end it hasn't and I'll move on and look to the future.
"I haven't burnt any bridges. ... I'm happy with where I'm headed and my future."
Mumford, who also had to leave Geelong in 2009 because of salary cap reasons, hoped his move would prompt other big names to join the Giants and give GWS a chance for premiership glory soon.
"I think with a bit more experience out there amongst these young guys, the possibilities are endless," he said.
"There's a lot of talent there .. Jeremy Cameron and guys like that who are going to be superstars of the game.
"So with a few more older and experienced guys amongst that, I think finals is a possibility within the next few years for sure."
As the first AFL player to be on the books of both Sydney clubs, Mumford looms as a spark capable of igniting the city's tepid derby.
The big-bodied ruckman has already put former teammate Mike Pyke on notice ahead of a likely round-one battle in 2014.
"I've told Pykey to watch out, I'm coming after him," Mumford joked.
"He rang me yesterday and obviously was a bit upset that we weren't going to be playing together, because we'd formed such a combination.
"But I told him to look out 'cause me and Gilesy (GWS ruckman Jonathan Giles) were coming after him.
"Hopefully we can really build the rivalry and get things going. A packed-out house at Skoda Stadium would be a great way to start the year."
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