GWS veteran Heath Shaw is at peace with his AFL legacy and looking at the Giants’ cut-throat final as an opportunity rather than a potential swansong.
The 33-year-old defender’s future remains up in the air heading into next Saturday’s elimination final against the Western Bulldogs at Giants Stadium.
Yet the 2010 Collingwood premiership icon insists he isn’t feeling pressure ahead of what could be his 305th and final AFL game.
“It’s exciting more than anything,” Shaw told AAP.
“I’ve had a really good career and I’m very lucky. I was joking last week that it could have been my last home and away game for the Giants or AFL altogether.
“It’s there in the background at the moment. I’m just worrying about playing the Bulldogs and hopefully getting through that.”
Should GWS bow out against the in-form Dogs, Shaw would be left nine matches short of surpassing of his famous uncle Tony’s family games record of 313.
The former Magpie admits one-upping Tony would be a carrot to play on in 2020, but his foremost interest is grabbing one more flag than him.
“313 – it’s just a number,” Shaw said.
“For me to play on next year wouldn’t be to beat Tony’s record, it would be to win a premiership if we don’t do it this season and whether I can contribute and be in the best 22.
“I don’t want to go around and play in the reserves.”
The Bulldogs’ youthful forward brigade stands in the way of Shaw’s pursuit of a farewell flag this season.
They ran riot against the Giants’ experienced backline in round 22, with Josh Schache, Bailey Dale, Tory Dickson, Aaron Naughton and Sam Lloyd among seven multiple goalkickers.
The 61-point win was one of four times in the past five matches that Luke Beveridge’s side have piled on more than 100 points.
But Shaw insists the Giants back six, and the team more broadly, will look a lot different than the last time they met.
Intercept defender Nick Haynes looms as a big in but will have to be cleared to return from a fractured larynx he suffered in a second-quarter bump from Dogs star Marcus Bontempelli.
“He’s a vital part of our backline and our team,” Shaw said of Haynes, who was named in the 2019 40-man All Australian squad.
“I must admit he’s taken his game to a new level this year.”
