Getting on in years is a Shaw thing

FATHER Time is an unwelcome visitor in every footballer’s life, but he came knocking on Heath Shaw’s door last year ... and won’t leave the house.

Turning 33 at the end of this year, the livewire defender is showing signs of decline in his 14th season in the AFL.

He was one of the best ball users in the game — in a match against the Western Bulldogs in 2016 he had 38 possessions at 100 per cent disposal efficiency — but on Friday night against Geelong had a career-low 35 per cent.

That sort of figure is amplified for a defender because the turnovers often lead to opposition goals.

Leon Cameron has had Shaw on his books since 2014 and the former Magpie has been a key ingredient in lifting GWS from easybeats to backto-back top-four finishers. But he recognised the significance of Shaw’s poor performance when he spoke after the loss to Geelong.

“He’s been such a good player for such a long time and he’s the first one to put up his hand,” Cameron said.

“He went back into his shell and kicked it really poorly. He was rushed. Last week he went at 75 per cent but had three or four really bad clangers. However, defensively he did a good job on Charlie Cameron. Defensively he was all right (against Geelong) but with ball in hand he was great.”

Shaw is out of contract at season’s end, and with plenty of young teammates on the improve he is bound to feel the salary cap squeeze.

His ability to win the ball is not what it was but he still averaging a respectable 22 possessions per game. What’s worrying is what he does with it. His disposal efficiency has dropped from the high 70s over the last four years to 64 per cent this year.