Heath Shaw Biography

Eddie Betts names Heath Shaw as the game's best trash talker.

"The biggest trash talker, and we've gone to battle for 16 years now, is Heath Shaw," Betts said, with a wide grin.

"But the funny thing about Heath Shaw is he trash talks his own teammates (and) abuses them. He's a good man, Heath. I love that he abuses everybody and doesn't care if they're his teammates."

Following a recommendation by GWS coach Leon Cameron, Heath Shaw reveals that he went on a five-day meditation retreat in Byron Bay at the end of 2019 to reinvigorate himself.

"I wasn't allowed to do any exercise in between that, in terms of running and weights. He totally banned that. There was no coffee, no alcohol. You had to eat very clean, vegan food for those five days," Shaw said.

"I was going from one extreme to the other, having had a fair go over my off-season. I'd gone from eating burgers and drinking a bit too much, to a full-blown health retreat. It was two opposite ends of the spectrum."

Following the Giants' disastrous 89-point loss to Richmond in the 2019 AFL Grand Final, Heath Shaw declares that he wants to play on, and seek redemption, in 2020.

The 33-year-old defender was set to call it quits on his 306-game career if the Giants claimed their maiden premiership, but it all went horribly wrong.

"I spoke to (Giants chief executive) Dave Matthews when I was walking off the ground, and he said, 'Mate, you can't go anywhere, you have to come back for one more year'," Shaw said.

"I said to a few of the boys that if we won a premiership, then I'd retire, but we didn't win it, so we'll figure it out in the next couple of weeks. But I'm not going anywhere and I've got a little bit of unfinished business."

Heath Shaw played for Collingwood in the 2010 (twice) and 2011 Grand Finals, and after an eight-year gap, will be back at the MCG on the last day of the season representing Greater Western Sydney.

"I was a bit younger and excited, and, not out of control, but you're just happy with everything and can go off on tangents," Shaw reflected.

"This year I'm the elder statesman, the leader and trying to keep everything intact as much as I can. I love my routine, so I'm trying to keep it as normal as possible."

On the eve of his 300th game, Heath Shaw says he never imagined reaching this milestone in his younger days.

"After my first two years I got offered a one-year contract and I was lucky to get that. To go from that to where I am now, it's a fair journey," Shaw said.

"It's a pretty unique achievement and I think I'm a pretty unique character.

I knew I'd play 300 games somewhere, but it was looking like it would be at Diamond Creek for a while there."

Ahead of his 300th match, 33-year old Heath Shaw admits that he would retire if the Giants won the flag in 2019.

"To be brutally honest, if we were to win the premiership this year I can honestly say you will never see me again because I'll be floating off and partying somewhere for at least a year," he said.

"That's the aim - the aim is to win a premiership, it's been my aim since I got to the Giants. (But) next year's next year, I'm worried about this year."

Rhyce Shaw says he is focused on getting another win for North Melbourne as caretaker coach and isn't too worried about any personal rivalry with his brother, Heath Shaw, who will be playing for GWS.

"I'm very focused on what I need to do and what the boys need to do, and have been locked in and preparing to play a really good team," he said.

"It is [a weird feeling to see his name on the other team]. Not only because he's my brother, but he's a bloody good player. He's done some damage over his time and I certainly hope we put some plans in place so he doesn't do that."

North Melbourne caretaker coach Rhyce Shaw is plotting the downfall of the Giants and younger brother Heath Shaw when the two teams meet in Hobart this week.

"It's going to be interesting ... it was weird when I first played against Rhyce after he moved. This is a pretty unique situation ... it makes it even more weird," Heath Shaw said.

"There will be a lot of stuff talked about during the week but when we get into it, it'll be two very competitive beasts both wanting to get the win."

In form and out of contract, Heath Shaw admits he's unsure about his future beyond 2019.

"I won't say that I don't want to play on next year. I'm not 100 per cent sure that I do," Shaw said.

"The body is feeling really good now. If it was just purely based on the body then yeah, I could definitely play on.

"Once I lose the passion and/or the ability to compete at the highest level in two areas (training and games), I'll know my time is up."

Former Adelaide defender Sam Shaw is suing the Crows, their club doctors and medical professionals after his career ended prematurely due to concussion.

He is seeking damages from the Crows, Adelaide club doctors and other medical professionals, according to documents filed in the Supreme Court of Victoria.

The defendants include former Crows senior doctor Andrew Potter, Duncan Walker – who remains part of the club's medical staff – neurologist Paul McCrory and clinical neuropsychologist Helen Clausen.

The writ alleges Shaw suffered a concussion while playing for the Crows in the SANFL in their round-one game against West Adelaide on March 26, 2016.

"Specifically, it is alleged that the concussion suffered by the Plaintiff (Shaw) was not managed in accordance with reasonable medical practice," the writ states.

Heath Shaw is set to play in what may be his final season, although he hopes that isn't the case.

"I'm not planning on this being my last (season) but I'm not naive to the fact that it might be. I think I'll know towards the end of this year whether it's going to be my last or not," Shaw said.

"I've had some good conversations with (coach) Leon (Cameron) and we're just playing it by ear. To be honest, I just plan on playing 22-25 games, and that's all I'm worried about."

Heath Shaw, who was given a one-game ban in 2009 for making intentional contact with an umpire, says common sense should be applied when dealing with these cases.

"It's sort of hard to get my head around it. That you can't actually explain what you're trying to do, one-on-one with an umpire," Shaw said.

"Sometimes I think we're a bit precious. If somebody is genuinely enquiring about a situation ... and you're not trying to be malicious towards the umpire, then I don't really see a problem with it."

Matt de Boer's remarkable career renaissance after being elevated into a new-look leadership group at Greater Western Sydney.

The Giants will again be led by co-captains Callan Ward and Phil Davis, who continue in the role for the seventh straight year, with vice-captain Stephen Coniglio joined by star midfielder Josh Kelly as a deputy.

All Australian Dylan Shiel was voted into the group again, but opted to step away from his leadership duties, while veteran defender Heath Shaw also made way.

When Heath Shaw runs onto Spotless Stadium in the Giants' semi-final showdown with West Coast, he will set a unique League record.

Shaw's 261st match (for Collingwood and GWS), when added to the playing careers of his brother Rhyce Shaw (237, Collingwood/Sydney), father Ray Shaw (146, Collingwood), and uncles Tony Shaw (313, Collingwood) and Neville Shaw (43, Collingwood), makes the Shaw clan the first direct family in VFL/AFL history to reach 1000 matches.

"It's a great achievement for some battlers from the northern suburbs of Melbourne," Heath Shaw joked.

"We've had a fair bit of help from Tony with his 313, but it's a pretty good effort for one family to have five players contribute so many games at the top level.

"I spoke to Rhyce about it this week and he was a bit shocked.

"The Shaw family name has been pretty prominent in football, especially at Collingwood, so to achieve something like this is a special little bonus."

Fellow GWS defender Adam Tomlinson says he welcomes veteran Heath Shaw's 'bakes'.

"People from the outside think he's carrying on, but to be honest that's just the easiest and most direct way for him to instruct us on the field," Tomlinson said.

"Especially when there's a big crowd, if you want to get your point across and make sure somebody listens then scream at them.

"Heath's a tremendous leader in the back line. He always gives great direction and I absolutely love playing with him."

Heath Shaw's 250th game against the Brisbane Lions on Saturday will bring his family one step closer to one of the game's most remarkable records.

The Greater Western Sydney star's milestone keeps the Shaw clan on track to be the first footy family to break the 1000-game mark during this year's finals series, a measure of significance that’s unlikely to be broken.

Heath's uncle Tony Shaw, Collingwood's 1990 premiership captain and Norm Smith medallist, leads the tally with 313 games.

Brother Rhyce Shaw is next with 237 appearances for the Magpies and Sydney, followed by father Ray Shaw, who played 146 times in the black and white, while the boys' uncle Neville Shaw rounds out the group with 43 games for the Pies in the 1980's.

"For one family to play that many games, and have that kind of success is pretty special," Heath said.

"We're all competitive beasts and hate losing, and I think that’s part of the reason we've succeeded at the highest level because we've wanted to get the best out of ourselves and our teammates."

Following the recent controversy with Marc Murphy being targeted by St Kilda players, Heath Shaw says sledging will always be a part of AFL and admits it can be hard not to overstep the mark in the heat of a match.

"You can't control the heat of the moment for players," Shaw said.

"During the game you are making a hundred decisions ... and sometimes a slip of the tongue or a comment comes out."

"It is a tough game and if you think it is going to get you an advantage then why not do it - but you obviously can't take it too far."

Heath Shaw has apologised for the offensive comment that took the gloss off the Giants' big win over Sydney at the SCG.

Shaw was recorded by on-field microphones calling opponent Tom Papley a "f---ing ******" as Papley headed to the bench. The Sydney small forward had just been in a contest with Shaw in which he had held Shaw in a headlock.

The audio was broadcast, prompting Fox Footy commentator Jason Dunstall to apologise to viewers.

"I want to apologise for the insensitive comment I made to Tom Papley during last night's game," Shaw said in a statement on the Giants' website.

"Yes I am a fiery person who plays with a lot of passion and emotion but that is no excuse for my actions last night.

"I apologise to Tom and anyone else who took offence to my comments, I deeply regret them.

"There is no place for comments of that nature on or off the football ground. It was an offensive remark that I should never have made and for that I apologise."

Greater Western Sydney's past two club champions are at odds after kick machine Heath Shaw robbed teammate Shane Mumford of a potential League record in round 19.

Mumford had 16 handballs and zero kicks in Saturday's 88-point thrashing of Richmond in Canberra, falling one short of the AFL record of 17 set by Fremantle's Aaron Sandilands in round 13, 2015.

The star ruckman had his chance to equal the record but the ball was stolen from him by Shaw, when the reigning Kevin Sheedy medallist snatched the footy out of his teammate's hands just as he was about to dish it off in the second term.

As he often does, Mumford got back inside the Giants' defensive 50 to help his back six and lunged for a diving mark just before half-time, but when he failed to realise that the umpire hadn't paid his diving effort, Shaw swooped.

"I told him to slow it down but I turned around quicker than him because ruckmen aren't that smart," Shaw laughed when recounting the story to AFL.com.au.

"The umpire called play on and he was in 'no man's land' as usual, Mumford-style, so I just grabbed it out of his hands and took off.

"I'm not even sure if it was a legal manoeuvre."

Shaw said wasn't aware that he'd destroyed Mumford's chance at matching Sandilands' feat against the Tigers, but would try to make it up to his ruckman.

"It makes me a little bit happier because we don't want Mumford walking any taller than he already does around the club," he joked.

"No, I will definitely apologise because big men love those records for most hit-outs and things like that, they thrive on it.

"If I've robbed him of a little bit of history, then I know he'll be a little bit upset."

Callan Ward and key defender Phil Davis will co-captain GWS for a fifth-straight season, but Shane Mumford and Tom Scully have made way for four new additions to the group.

Reigning club champion Heath Shaw will again support Ward and Davis, who have shared the skipper's role since the Giants entered the competition in 2012.

Gun midfielders Stephen Coniglio, Dylan Shiel and Devon Smith, and defender Matt Buntine, all 22-year-old Giants' 'originals', have been given a spot on the leadership team for the first time.

"We've had young guys who have been doing leadership stuff for four years that they've been here and they're ready to step in," Ward said.

"We didn't want the group too large, and seven is the perfect number for us.

"We've got four fifth-year players who are terrific leaders, terrific men; that's what we're about at this football club, great men and great people so I think it's really good signs for us.

"They'll fill the shoes really well."

Zac Williams says GWS teammate Heath Shaw has helped shape his game significantly over the past two years since moving to the Giants from Collingwood.

"When 'Shawry' (Heath Shaw) came to the club, myself and (fellow defender) Nathan Wilson were very offensive minded, so it's been really good with him coming in and teaching us some tricks defensively," Williams said.

"He's been a really great asset for the half-backs in our team, we're really working on defending first and then working off our men."

Heath Shaw caps his best individual season in the AFL by winning the Kevin Sheedy Medal as Greater Western Sydney's club champion at Rosehill Gardens racecourse.

Shaw stormed home in the second half of the season, polling 117 votes to take the award from midfielder Adam Treloar (98 votes), with co-captain Callan Ward (91) grabbing the final podium spot.

Shaw led the League for kicks, rebound 50s, and as one of the game's best running backmen, not surprisingly had the most bounces in the competition.

"I'm 29 years old and I'm probably playing the best footy of my life and I never thought I'd be in this position, but the guys that I've got around me make me better so I'm just rapt to accept this award," Shaw said.

"Leaving Collingwood, I loved the club, loved the people at the club, but it was the right time for me to go.

"The decision had to be made - to be honest it's been the best decision that's been made for me, or that I've made.

"To come to this place and start from square one, I'm absolutely stoked that I made that decision."

GWS will stick with co-captains Callan Ward and Phil Davis who will share in the leadership of the club in 2015.

Tom Scully and Heath Shaw have been reappointed as vice-captains, while Shane Mumford remains in the leadership group.

"To go into our fourth year with a virtually unchanged leadership group speaks volumes about the stability and maturity of the club and is a tremendous endorsement of our leaders," Giants coach Leon Cameron said.

"Callan and Phil have developed into outstanding young leaders on and off the field and are ably supported by Tom, Heath and Shane."

GWS coach Leon Cameron says he is confident Heath Shaw will return to his best in 2015.

"I can see this steely determination to say 'hang on, Heath Shaw can play the game. Don't forget how good he is as a player,'" Cameron said.

"He is a proud man and he wants to leave a really good legacy at this footy club. I am looking forward to Heath's second year."

Heath Shaw is locked up in Melbourne on the morning of the Grand Final after being involved in a drunken verbal altercation with police.

The 28-year-old was a passenger in a car that was pulled over in Malvern Rd, Toorak, during the early hours of Saturday morning.

Shaw's antics resulted in him being taken to the St Kilda police station, where he was detained for a number of hours.

He was released without charge after being handed a $590 penalty notice for drunken behaviour.

"We have spoken to Heath about his behaviour and his responsibilities as a member of our leadership group," Giants chief executive David Matthews said.

"He accepts that he let himself down on this occasion and that his behaviour was unacceptable.

"We are disappointed with what happened and so is he and we have agreed that he will undergo counselling.

"We have also agreed to consider the matter further when he returns to the club after his current leave period."

Heath Shaw is set to make his return from a serious head injury when the Giants face Richmond at the MCG this week.

"There's nothing to speed up the process at all, so it was a bit frustrating sitting on the sidelines and just waiting for time to go by," Shaw said.

"I thought I was OK a couple of days later but the seriousness of what happened was pretty full-on and it sent a bit of a fright.

"Waiting that four or five weeks and doing everything to get right and fully training today gives me confidence."

Heath Shaw sustained bleeding on the brain from the heavy hit he copped against the Sydney Swans almost two weeks ago and won't be considered for selection for at least another three weeks.

Heavily concussed at the time, Shaw was taken for scans, which have revealed the small bleed on his brain.

He has since visited specialists in both Sydney and Melbourne and, while the club initially thought he would be fine by now, the 28-year-old won't be considered for selection until the bleed subsides.

"Initially when he got the knock in the Sydney game there was a very minor bleed to the brain," GWS coach Leon Cameron said.

"And so Heath's welfare comes first and we have to be really, really careful with how he's progressing."

Shaw will take every precaution before a decision is made on his availability going forward following the heavy knock to his face when he collided into Swan Kurt Tippett's knee.

"I got the all-clear from the docs, no breaks or fractures or anything like that in the face," Shaw said.

"Just the concussion and I'll go through that concussion procedure this week and see how I go.

"Looking at the replay I'm surprised I didn't break anything and probably should've taken up boxing or something with the solid jaw that I've got.

"I'm happy to come away fairly unscathed and get back out there as soon as possible."

Heath Shaw has escaped with only a concussion following an accidental collision with Kurt Tippett in the first quarter of Greater Western Sydney's 46-point loss to the Sydney Swans.

Shaw was taken to hospital immediately after leaving the field but he was well enough to be discharged not long after the game finished.

The incident occurred when Swans midfielder Ben McGlynn brought the ball out of their defensive 50m and found co-captain Jarrad McVeigh, who spotted Tippett wide open in the forward line.

McVeigh's long bomb was perfectly weighted and Tippett took the mark, but a charging Shaw tried to force a contest and ended up getting smashed flush on the jaw by the forward's raised knee.

Shaw didn't move after the unfortunate hit and was taken from the ground on a medicab after an awful collision.

Following the Giants' stirring opening round win against the Swans, Heath Shaw says the win could be the catalyst for a great rivalry between the clubs.

"For us to get a win first-up in the season, it's pretty exciting stuff, and I think later in the year when we play them again it's going to be on," Shaw said.

"They're going to want redemption and we're going to want to keep the foot on the throat like we did on the weekend.

"That's exciting times and it's exciting for Sydney to build up the code as much as we can and build that rivalry."

Phil Davis and Callan Ward are retained as GWS co-captains in 2014 with Heath Shaw joining Tom Scully as vice-captains of the club.

Shane Mumford and Stephen Gilham round out the leadership group.

"I don't know what the media in Melbourne think about Heath, because they always seem to be on his back, but he's been unbelievable," Davis said about Shaw.

"What they thought he was going to provide has been nowhere near what he's actually been able to do.

"He's been enormous for our footy club and he's just a natural leader, people are drawn to him, he's an infectious character, he leads by example and sets good standards."

Rhyce Shaw says his brother Heath would make a great captain for GWS.

"He's a fantastic leader, he knows the game inside out, he's courageous, he does the right things and he takes the young guys along with him," he said.

"And I just think at GWS, that's the kind of thing they need at this point.

"For me he'd be the perfect captain for them. With all his experience and attributes as a leader, that's exactly what they need at this time."

Ben Johnson opens up on the relationship between Collingwood's 'Rat Pack' and coach Nathan Buckley.

The 'Rat Pack' comprised of several Magpies players namely Johnson, Dane Swan, Alan Didak and Heath Shaw.

"Me and 'Dids' were coming to the end of our careers anyway. Heath was traded (to Greater Western Sydney), which was a bit of a shock, but that's the game," Johnson said.

"Bucks has always got along really well with us. Me and Dids probably played a hundred games with him as our captain, and we had a good relationship with him.

"Bucks was certainly grumpier on the field than as a coach. He's a pretty tame coach, he keeps his head, and he's very approachable. Bucks' door is always open to every player.

"If there was ever an issue, we'd talk about it like grown men. Exactly the same as I did with Mick (Malthouse). I've had arguments with both – more with Mick – but we'd work it out."

GWS names three premiership players to its leadership group for 2014 including Shane Mumford, Stephen Gilham and Heath Shaw.

"These three guys are premiership players at the clubs they've previously been at but they also offer 10 years of experience in football generally and not only on the field but off the field," Giants coach Leon Cameron said.

Ex-Magpie Heath Shaw defends former teammate Darren Jolly's tirade at Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley, saying he too often had strong opinions about the club.

"If we thought that something was going to improve the club then we'd obviously our hand up and say it," Shaw said.

"Whether he (Buckley) took that on board or not, that's up to him.

"At the end of the day, we're there to win games of footy and we're there to improve.

"So it was never going to be anything that was against the club."

Curtly Hampton is excited at the prospect of playing alongside former Magpie and new GWS recruit Heath Shaw.

"As soon as I heard the rumours that he might be coming to the Giants, I was hoping he'd get here because he's one of the players I like to watch off the half-back flank," Hampton said.

"Shaw is obviously pretty experienced and played in a premiership so I'm looking forward to learning a lot from him.

"I've heard that he wants to really help develop us and, being in the backline, I'm pretty sure he'll take a few of us under his wing.

"I can't wait to start training with him and picking his brain."

Heath Shaw says it wasn't his decision to be traded to GWS after telling Collingwood that he wanted to stay at the club.

"I was pretty shocked and upset at that time," Shaw said about finding out that he would be traded.

"After it was done I didn't really want to speak to anyone, I went off-line for a few days just to take it all in.

"The process wasn't the greatest process to go through but now that it's done and dusted I'm really excited about the challenge ahead. I'm looking forward to getting to Sydney and getting stuck in to pre-season."

After being locked in a stand-off for days, GWS and Collingwood finally reach an in-principle agreement sending Heath Shaw to the Giants and Taylor Adams to the Magpies in a straight swap, with Collingwood to pay a percentage of Shaw's salary in the first year of his contract.

"The word was that it would happen but the clock was counting down and until it is done there is always doubt," Adams said.

"The Giants put two years into me and helped me enormously and with some really close friends at the club there will always be a part of me that wishes the club well.

"It was really a decision based on a desire to be closer to my family and friends and the idea of playing for a big club in Melbourne."

Young Giant Taylor Adams looks set to join Collingwood after Magpie defender Heath Shaw declared his intention to join GWS.

"It's certainly not a done deal, but it's fair to say it's slightly more likely as a result of (Shaw's decision)," Adams' manager Scott Lucas told SEN radio.

"I'm sure Collingwood would be keen to look at a swap of Heath Shaw for Taylor Adams. Whether GWS think that's fair and reasonable is another question."

Heath Shaw declares GWS as his club of choice after being enticed by the promise of a five-year deal.

"A number of other clubs were chasing Heath, so for him to say he wants to join the Giants is a great endorsement of the club and the direction we are taking," GWS coach Leon Cameron said.

"Heath is exactly the sort of player we are looking for.

"He is a quality player who has enjoyed premiership success and will provide tremendous leadership for our young playing group."

GWS confirm their interest in Heath Shaw but deny reports of a $4 million contract offer to the Collingwood defender.

"The claim that we have made a $4 million offer is a wild exaggeration and simply wrong," Giants football manager Graeme Allan said.

"We are certainly very interested in Heath Shaw, a premiership player, and we have had discussions with him and his manager, as have a number of other clubs."

Gold Coast football manager Marcus Ashcroft says the club will not be pursuing Heath Shaw despite rumours suggesting interest from the Suns.

Dale Thomas and Heath Shaw fail to show for Collingwood's best and fairest award count despite being given invites by the club.

Heath Shaw's manager Ben Niall says his client is more likely to leave Collingwood than stay.

"We're talking to a number of clubs and we're going through a process that you would expect us to go through," Niall said.

"We're more likely to go than stay, is what I would say. I wouldn't rule out [staying] completely … but he's more likely to go than stay."

Luke Ball says Collingwood teammates Dale Thomas and Heath Shaw should take their time in considering their future with the club.

"They're guys who started at Collingwood at a really young age and have gone though tough periods in their career," Ball said.

"My only advice to them is to have a good think about it and not to rush their decision.

"Do what's best for you and once you make the decision, and the hardest part is making the decision, make sure you put all your energy into moving forward and don't look back, as tough as that is."

Collingwood president Eddie McGuire says the club will attempt to find a suitable trade for Heath Shaw but will welcome the defender back if a deal cannot be made with an opposition club.

"'Shawry' has a two-year contract at Collingwood, so if deals aren't on the table that aren't right for Collingwood nor are they right for him, everyone comes back together and says, 'Come on, let's work this out', then there's an opportunity," McGuire told Triple M.

"But the first step on this is to see if there is a deal to be done for 'Shawry' to go somewhere else and for Collingwood to get a good deal out of it."

Fairfax Media reports that Heath Shaw has not quit or been sacked by Collingwood, but has agreed he will leave if he can find a preferred new home and the Pies can reach a suitable trade with that club.

"Heath is a contracted player but he has reached a point in his career where he has to weigh up where he wants to play out his final years and he is looking at other options for where that might be," Collingwood football manager Rodney Eade said.

Heath Shaw's manager Ben Niall says his client wants to stay at Collingwood after media speculation that the defender would be traded from the Magpies at the end of the season.

"He's a Collingwood person, his family are Collingwood, he loves the football club, he's got relationships that are broad and deep in that place and he loves playing for his footy club," Niall said.

"I think Heath's personality and profile means he can be a bit of a lightning rod for dissent and for dissatisfaction.

"Maybe sometimes he brings a bit of that on himself, but he's passionate about the team's success."

Media reports suggest that Heath Shaw and Sam Fisher could be heading from Collingwood and St Kilda respectively to new clubs.

Collingwood's patience with Shaw is reported to be close to running out after the defender's remonstration with Port forward Angus Monfries in their elimination final that cost the Pies a goal at a crucial stage.

Fisher is reported to be drawing strong interest from Greater Western Sydney.

Magpie coach Nathan Buckley defends Heath Shaw's occasional fiery outbursts directed at teammates on the field.

"He wears his heart on his sleeve," Buckley said.

"When he's disappointed you know about it. When he's happy you know about it. Managing that is not difficult because we know his intentions are for the betterment of the team.

"I'm glad it continues to mean something to him. If he was flat and lifeless and didn't give anything I'd be worried."

Nathan Buckley dismisses suggestions a group of senior players called the "brat pack" are agitating against cultural change.

The group includes players such as Dane Swan, Ben Johnson, Alan Didak and Heath Shaw who have reportedly resisted moves to become more disciplined on and off the field.

"I don't think there is enough credit given to those (senior) players," Buckley said.

"They have been successful performers over a long period of time. They are great footballers, they are great team men, they want to be part of a successful environment. I think the supposition that they are on one road and the rest of the club is on another is totally false. It's not fair on them."

Heath Shaw's father, Ray Shaw, expresses disappointment that his son's skinfold results, which were a factor in Shaw being dropped from the side, was made public.

"I'm disappointed that it even got out of the club," Ray Shaw said.

"Things like this should be kept in house between the dietitian, the coach and the player."

Collingwood star Heath Shaw may come under video scrutiny for an 'off the ball' incident involving Docker Hayden Ballantyne.

The umpire's microphone picked up Ballantyne saying "he punched me in the nuts''.

Heath Shaw expresses frustration at rule changes being targeted at defenders after after the introduction of a rule shortening the time allowed for kick ins from eight seconds to six seconds.

"It would be good if the rules committee changed some of the rules up the other end, for the forwards and not the defenders because they seem to make our life even more difficult," Shaw said.

Collingwood players Heath Shaw and Dale Thomas are out of the Port clash and the Anzac Day blockbuster against Essendon with hamstring injuries.

"While the injuries to both players are relatively minor, because of the timing of our matches over the next two rounds, both players will be unavailable for selection against Port Adelaide and Essendon," Collingwood director of football Geoff Walsh said.

Heath Shaw signs a contract extension with the Magpies which will tie him to the club until the end of 2015.

"I'm rapt to get it out of the way nice and early in the year and stay with the club for hopefully the rest of my career," Shaw told Fox Footy's The Club.

"I'm looking forward to some more success in the future and obviously with the family name and everything like that, it's great to be a one club player and continue on with the history of the Collingwood Football Club and the Shaw name as well."

Heath Shaw says he is not concerned about outside critics who question his elevation into the Magpies' leadership group due to his checkered past.

"People might raise their eyebrows about my past history but you can't change the past. You can only influence the future," Shaw said.

"To be honest, what people outside of the club say, I don't pay a hell of a lot of attention to. They weren't the people voting on the group, and they weren't the people voting on the leaders.

"The people who are most important are those internally, and the players, and they nominate the people they think are best suited to lead the club going forward."

Heath Shaw's supergoal against Melbourne last week was a delight to him and his junior club, Diamond Creek, the beneficiary of $500 worth of footballs courtesy of the AFL.

"It's not too often I sneak down for a goal and even rarer I get the opportunity to kick one from outside 50," Shaw said.

"It was spur of the moment, the ball popped up in my hands and the opportunity rose and I wasn't letting it pass."

Collingwood defender Heath Shaw is hopeful off-season surgery has ended the soreness he endured last season.

"We were hoping it would increase the major movement in my hip and hopefully that would release a bit of tension through my back and hamstrings, which I had a little bit of problem with last year," Shaw said.

"There was nothing actually wrong with the hips; it's just trying to do something to increase that range of movement and loosen up that area so that I'm more flexible and there isn't as much strain on the lower back and groin."

Nick Maxwell says changes to Collingwood's leadership group will allow young players such as Dale Thomas, Travis Cloke and Heath Shaw to grow in their new roles.

"Swanny and Jolls stepped down and will take more of a leadership role in the background, so it's good for those guys as senior players; you'd expect them to keep being leaders around the club," Maxwell said.

"The time came for us to bring some youth through the leadership group. You see that with Daisy, Trav and Heater coming through and they'll be good support for us."

Collingwood's Heath Shaw is on a modified program during his team's gruelling high-altitude training camp in Arizona due to a recovering hip complaint.

"I've done nothing at all [since the surgery]. I couldn't do anything due to the hip but I'm feeling good," Shaw said.

"I'm slowly but steadily easing back into it. Hopefully by the end of this trip I will be in full training."

Banished for a bet, Heath Shaw is now reaping the rewards of his lonely Arizona fitness mission after returning five kilos lighter.

"At times, yeah, it was very challenging. The first four days in Arizona I was there by myself, waking up in the morning and getting yourself up to do what was set out in the program for me that day," Shaw said.

"When you're there by yourself, you've got to get the motivation to get up and go and do your work. I suppose when you have that prize of a spot in that first final dangling, you want to work as hard as you can. On the way home, I was very confident I had done everything I could."

Heath Shaw admits he was shocked to receive a 14-match suspension by the AFL for betting, saying he had expected a fine instead.

"To be honest, I didn't think I'd miss any football. I thought I might get a fine or something like that,'' Shaw told SEN radio.

"When the number 14 weeks got thrown up at the start I nearly fell off my chair. It was tough and I thought, 'Gee, that's a long time' and then it went down to eight and I thought that was a long time as well."

Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse has backed Heath Shaw to be ready to play a part in the Pies' finals campaign when he returns from suspension.

"Heath is one of those blokes who will jump straight in," Malthouse said.

"He's not going to be a player who needs super touch; because he's not injured, he'll get massive touch, but also, some players can be suspended like this and still get their touch and they miss the body contact. He won't miss that. I predict that he will be ready to go when the time comes."

Jason Akermanis, in his column for the Herald Sun, argues that Heath Shaw's penalty by the AFL for a $10 bet is over-the-top.

"The AFL is telling us that this $10 bet on Nick Maxwell to be first goalkicker, of which he would have won a grand at best, through a friend is worse than racism?" Akermanis wrote.

"Or abusing an umpire on TV or snorting cocaine? Well, if you look at the facts on the table, it is."

The AFL has announced it has concluded an investigation into betting on AFL matches, with Heath Shaw suspended and Nick Maxwell fined.

"Shaw shared $10 in a $20 cash bet with a friend on Nick Maxwell to kick the first goal of the round nine match between Collingwood and the Adelaide Crows, played at Etihad Stadium on Sunday May 22. The bet was placed at odds of $101," AFL operations manager Adrian Anderson said in a statement.

"On the same day, Shaw passed on inside information to two people that team mate Nick Maxwell would start the match up forward, instead of his usual role in defence. This information led to the placing of three cash bets totalling $25 on Nick Maxwell to kick the first goal, also at odds of $101.

"Collingwood player Nick Maxwell has been sanctioned $5000, with a further $5000 suspended for recklessly disclosing inside information, being information that he would start the match as a forward in the round nine match between Collingwood and the Adelaide Crows. Player Maxwell had discussed this with his family in the lead-up to the match."

Heath Shaw expresses regret after being suspended by the AFL for placing a football-related bet.

"At the time I thought it was something sort of minor and that nothing would come of it. Looking back, it was a stupid thing to do. I didn't really think of the consequences," Shaw said.

Collingwood captain Nick Maxwell plays down a heated discussion with teammate Heath Shaw caught on camera their win over West Coast.

"Over the last eight years we've been playing together you could see there are three or four times a game (when) we go nuts at each other for different reasons," Maxwell said.

"I suppose that is why we love Heath so much because he is so passionate about our footy club and wanting to win."

Heath Shaw has carried on his impressive Grand Final form from last year to win the Michael Tuck medal for being best on ground in the 2011 NAB Cup grand final.

Collingwood defender Heath Shaw is warned by a magistrate to curb his drinking or risk going to jail and ruining his AFL career.

Shaw faced Heidelberg Magistrates' Court where it was revealed he twice caught driving after drinking despite a court-enforced order for him to be sober while being behind the wheel.

"Have you thought about getting put into the dock there and taken away?" Magistrate Roger Franich said to Shaw.

"That happens on a regular basis for drink-drivers, you know. You're putting your whole livelihood in jeopardy, aren't you?"

Defender Heath Shaw has declared that one day he would like to captain Collingwood.

"As a Collingwood supporter all my life and going through with my uncle and my dad captaining Collingwood, growing up pretty much that's all you want to do," Shaw said.

"You want to win a flag and you want to captain the club you barrack for."

Josh Fraser and Tarkyn Lockyer are replaced by Heath Shaw and new recruit Darren Jolly in Collingwood's leadership group.

"He's only 23, 24 years old now, so it takes time to mature and time to mature into an AFL footballer, so that's something that he's worked on, and we're rapt that he's in there. He's done a lot of good things already," Magpies skipper said of Shaw.

"He's really taking on young guys now. He's not just playing his own game - he's really trying to help the team and develop the young guys."

Collingwood defender Heath Shaw says former Saint Luke Ball would be a valuable addition to his side's midfield.

"He's obviously a quality player, he's been around the traps for a while and he's been captain of his former club," Shaw said.

"He'd definitely bring a lot of experience to the club."

Brothers Heath and Rhyce Shaw will play against each other on Saturday night for the first time in their careers.

"It was pretty much a dream of ours to play together and I do miss it," Rhyce said.

"He's always been my little brother and I've never played against him in anything. It's going to be weird going up against him and all my old mates down at Collingwood but I'm really looking forward to the challenge.

"Before the game, he's my brother and after the game, he's my brother but out on the field, he's another player."

Anthony Rocca and Heath Shaw look set to return to Collingwood's team for the clash with St Kilda on Monday.

Collingwood defender and Anzac Day medallist Heath Shaw will miss Saturday's Anzac Day clash with Essendon because of a hamstring injury.

Collingwood midfielder Tarkyn Lockyer doesn'tlike teammate Heath Shaw's chances of escaping suspension for intentional umpire contact.

"I think the umpires and the AFL and the tribunal make it pretty clear that you’re not supposed to touch the umpires," he said.

"I think every player throughout the league should know that you don't touch the umpire."

Tarkyn Lockyer fears the Tribunal will make an example of Heath Shaw for touching an umpire.

Heath Shaw has been suspended for one game and fined $1950 fine after pleading guilty to making intentional contact with an umpire.

Former AFL umpire Darren Goldspink believes Collingwood's Heath Shaw should be penalised for touching an umpire.

Heath Shaw risks missing weeks after being charged with manhandling an umpire during Collingwood's loss to Geelong.

Anthony Rocca and Heath Shaw both trained strongly on Wednesday, fuelling hopes they will return for Collingwood's clash with Melbourne.

Alan Didak and Heath Shaw set to return after club-imposed suspensions ruled them out for last six games in 2008.

Harry O'Brien says Heath Shaw and Alan Didak have done enough over the AFL off-season to earn back the players' respect.

Alan Didak and Heath Shaw will be trying for the rest of their careers to earn back the respect of teammates, according to Josh Fraser.

Heath Shaw has declared next year is about "repaying the faith" to the Magpies for supporting him despite his lies.

Alan Didak and Heath Shaw are suspended for the rest of the 2008 season for lying about their involvement in a car accident.

Rhyce Shaw, brother of Heath Shaw, is also suspended for two matches as he was drinking over the weekend while injured.

"The Collingwood Football Club has suspended both Heath Shaw and Alan Didak for the rest of the 2008 season as a result of the fact they lied to the club about a drink-driving incident that occurred on Sunday night," the Collingwood Football Club said in a statement.

"These suspensions both include the home-and-away portion of the season and potential finals matches.

"As a repeat offender, Alan has been fined $5000 while the original fine to Heath of $10,000 remains.

"As part of the club's further investigations, it was established that Rhyce Shaw, while injured, was drinking over that weekend, and as a result he has been suspended for two matches and fined $5000.

Heath Shaw is arrested for drink driving during the weekend when he is understood to have lost control of his vehicle and driven into parked cars.

His blood alcohol reading at the time is said to have been .144, almost three times the legal limit.

Collingwood have stopped short of suspending Shaw but have decided, instead, to fine him $10,000.

"There is no excuse and we're sick and tired of this behaviour," an angry Eddie Mcguire, president of the Magpies said.

"He's not a five-year-old, he is a grown man and must take responsibility. Mick breaks his neck week in and out and is dragged down by clowns. Enough is enough."

As part of his punishment, Shaw is made to front the media to explain his action where he claims that an unnamed friend was in the passenger seat of his car.

Reports, however, later reveal that friend to be Alan Didak despite both players vehemently denying that was the case before the revelation.

Based on the new reports, Collingwood are forced to review their penalty imposed on Shaw.

"The sanction imposed on Heath by the club on Monday was a result of information stated by both Heath and Alan after being repeatedly questioned about the incident," the Magpies said in a statement.

"Given the club has now found their information to be false, it strikes at the principles of honesty and integrity that the Collingwood Football Club is built on.

"For this reason, the sanction imposed will be immediately reviewed by the club, and media will be notified of a press conference to be held on Tuesday."