300 UP AND FLAG DRIVEN
Premiership would signal end as Shaw prepares for Giant milestone
AFL: One of the AFL’s true characters, Heath Shaw, has strongly hinted at retirement if the Greater Western Sydney Giants break through for a maiden premiership.
Dressed in a Giants jacket, tie and collared shirt, and footy shorts, socks and boots downstairs, Shaw reflected this week in his classic joker style on the 300-game milestone to come this Saturday night against Port Adelaide.
Shaw said he’s only ever serious for the two hours of game time on the weekend and it’s this lightheartedness which has helped shape the rise of the start-up team that wasn’t even around when he launched his career as a premiership player at Collingwood.
GWS had prepared a video tribute to Shaw and showed it to him and the playing group yesterday morning, with former Magpies coach Mick Malthouse and teammate Dale Thomas and long-time rival Eddie Betts among those honouring his career.
The All-Australian defender has yet to make a decision on whether he will play on in 2020 and chase uncle Tony Shaw’s family record of 313 matches.
But Shaw, 33, said he would hang up his boots if the Giants could secure their first flag.
“I’ve still got a bit of unfinished business, by unfinished business I mean winning a premiership this year,” he said. “Next year’s next year. I’m worried about this year.
“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, I’ll be partying somewhere for at least a year. That’s the aim.
“It’s been my aim (to win a premiership) since I got to the Giants. We’ve gradually built over five years, so that’s the aim.”
From a famous footy family, Shaw acknowledged the impact of uncle Tony (former Collingwood captain and coach), father Ray (former Collingwood captain) and brother Rhyce (former Collingwood and Sydney player and current North Melbourne caretaker coach) on his career – in what he admitted had been an emotional week to date.
But the press conference to mark his 300th game wasn’t without some trademark jibes, mostly directed at his family.
“I definitely rank myself No.1, there’s no doubt there,” he said. “I think it was after my He’s like, ‘Don’t count your games, make your games count.’ I said to him, ‘That’s what people who don’t get to 200 say.’
“I’ve actually helped him (Rhyce) out a lot more this year and the reason why the Kangaroos are winning is probably because of me – feeding him information every week.
“They all want tickets. It’s going to be an expensive weekend for me.”
He said the Shaw family was proud of him, and he was proud of his leadership role at GWS.
“There’s still kids coming in 17 years old and I’m still kicking around with them,” Shaw said. “It gives you a new lease of life every year.”
IF WE WERE TO WIN THE PREMIERSHIP THIS YEAR I CAN HONESTLY SAY YOU WILL NEVER SEE ME AGAIN. — HEATH SHAW