AFL 2020: Veteran says GWS will be ‘like water’ in ever-changing season
Heath Shaw’s 16th season has thrown up more challenges than he can count, but as he breaks a family games record he’s learning to go with the flow.
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Heath Shaw and his GWS teammates will just “be water” in the ever-changing AFL landscape as the star veteran plays on in pursuit of another premiership.
On Sunday Shaw, 34, will play his 314th game, surpassing his uncle and Collingwood premiership captain Tony for the games record in the Shaw family, which has a record 1052 games between them.
While the former Magpie was happy to take over “head of the table” duties at Shaw family functions, he said he only played on this season, his 16th, for one reason, to win a premierships with the Giants.
Heath 314....
— Heath Shaw (@LordHeathShaw23) July 9, 2020
Tony 313
Rhyce 237
Ray 146
Neville 43 pic.twitter.com/vYfKKALWJb
Shaw dismissed any suggestion there should be an asterisk on the COVID-19 impacted season, which will see his team play Port Adelaide on the Gold Coast, evidence of the unique circumstances of the season.
But as he invoked a philosophy of martial arts legend Bruce Lee, Shaw said his team would adapt to whatever was thrown at them in search of Grand Final glory.
“That’s the thought process around everyone playing at the moment. We are not there to make up numbers. We don’t go out there just to play for the sake of it. The only reason I came back this year was to win a premiership,” Shaw said.
“Whether the pandemic occurred or not, I want to win a Grand Final in what might be my last year.
“This year is a little bit different, but I’ve been watching a (documentary) on Bruce Lee, and the theory behind it is you just adapt to the environment that is.
“If you put water in a cup, the water becomes a cup, if you put water in a bucket, the water becomes the bucket … that’s how our week to week is.
“We just have to adapt to what’s coming at us and be water.
“You’ve just got to be water. You have to adapt to it and go with the flow. At the moment the Giants are going to be water.”
Adapting could include playing a Grand Final in Sydney, with ANZ Stadium being touted as a venue should the COVID-19 situation in Victoria remain dire.
Shaw said he was a traditionalists, and the decider should always be played at the MCG.
But this year could be one exception.
“I can’t see why not. If it means there’s going to be a crowd, then definitely,” Shaw said.
“To get a crowd of 50-60,000 instead of having zero people at the MCG, I know what I’d be doing.”
Tim Taranto could return for GWS this week from his shoulder injury.
Shaw said the star midfielder had trained all week and was “knocking the door down” for selection.
Originally published as AFL 2020: Veteran says GWS will be ‘like water’ in ever-changing season