The 24-year-old suffered ligament damage in both knees late last season, but didn't immediately require surgery following a positive medical assessment after the Swans’ semi-final loss to the Western Bulldogs.
Persistent swelling in his right knee as pre-season training intensified eventually forced him under the knife in November, with the lengthy recovery time sending him down a different path in his quest to return to peak fitness.
While his teammates did ball work over the summer, Mumford swam, pedalled and boxed his way to fitness.
“I've worked really hard with my fitness training doing lots of 'off-legs' stuff," Mumford says.
"I've pushed myself very hard in that area so I think that's given me a decent base.
"It's really just come good now, so I've timed it pretty well in a way. I would have preferred not to have the pre-season I did, but it has all worked out OK, I think.
"The couple of games I've played have made me realise that my fitness isn't that far off what I'd like it to be at this stage."
Mumford admitted to being underdone in limited game time in his first hit-out against Gold Coast a fortnight ago. Just one week later. he noticed a marked improvement against St Kilda, which is a credit to his body's natural powers of recovery.
That resilience was pushed to the limit at the business end of last season, when Mumford played through a ruptured medial ligament in his left knee only to suffer a torn posterior cruciate ligament in his right in the first half of the semi-final against the Dogs.
"It's good to know what the body is capable of, but I'd much rather just get back to 100 per cent and get through the season unscathed," he says with a laugh.
"We didn't really know the extent of the damage, but by the second half against the Bulldogs I was pretty well knackered.
"I couldn't really jump at all. It was pretty much impossible, so I was just trying to turn centre bounces into a ball-up situation. Around the ground it wasn't too bad. I was fine when I was running; it was just the jumping that hurt, which did make things a little bit difficult."
It was a tough finish to a good year for Mumford, whose first 21 games in Swans colours saw him finish second in the club best and fairest count behind Kieren Jack.
Mumford is expecting to spend more time up forward in his second season with the onset of the substitute rule, and he's excited by the prospect of adding another string to his bow.
Formerly a bit-part player at Geelong, Mumford has relished the move to Sydney both on and off the field.
"I've loved every minute of it since I've got up here," he says.
"I feel like my footy's gone to another level which is great. I'm just loving life in Sydney really. The beaches are amazing."
But while he's content in his new environment off the field, Mumford is by no means complacent about his role in the side.
"You never really want to get too comfortable with where you're at," he says.
"There's always blokes fighting to take your spot, but I'm really looking forward to having another big year.
"I'd hate to be on the selection committee, so the future's looking really good in my eyes."
Shane Mumford is a $332,000 ruckman in the Toyota AFL Dream Team competition.
Click here to sign up for the private Sydney Swans Dream Team competition.
