SHAW SETS HIS RECORD STRAIGHT
HEATH Shaw rarely sticks to a script but the Greater Western Sydney veteran made an exception on the eve of his 250th AFL game.
In a sport often guilty of taking itself too seriously, Shaw stands out. The 31-yearold is fiercely competitive on the field, as evidenced by the sprays he continues to direct at teammates and opponents.
But off the park he is a prankster, member of Collingwood’s famed rat pack and someone always willing to speak his mind.
So Shaw yesterday decided to take the mickey out of himself instead of celebrating a decorated career that has featured a premiership, GWS best-and-fairest honours and two All-Australian gongs.
“I’d like to talk you through a few stats,” Shaw started his press conference, reading from a prepared statement.
“I’ve missed 33 games since debuting in 2005, 17 of them through AFL or club suspensions. I’ve taken 812 kick-outs, 91 per cent of them I’ve kicked to myself. I’ve been best on ground on Mad Monday four times out of 13 – that’s not a bad ratio as well.”
Shaw admitted there was one milestone he’d dearly like to tick off.
“I’ve got to get to 313 games to beat Tony (uncle Tony Shaw) so that I’m No.1 in the family,” he said.