Former Collingwood and GWS star Heath Shaw set to play for Geelong West Giants
Heath Shaw is set to be back in a Giants guernsey when he runs out for a country club this weekend. And an AFL chief executive helped orchestrate it.
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Former Collingwood and GWS star Heath Shaw is set to pull on the Giants guernsey again for Geelong league club Geelong West this weekend.
The cameo appearance is part of a wider initiative between Geelong West and GWS, who comes up against Geelong at GMHBA Stadium on Sunday.
The two clubs have held a connection since the Geelong West Giants’ inception in 2017, which has waned in recent years.
GWS has also been connected with other Giants clubs across the country.
Shaw, 39, featured for Korumburra-Bena Giants in the West Gippsland league last month amd the Geelong West Giants are poised to add 325 games of AFL experience in their Saturday evening clash against Lara, who is coming off a 276-point defeat to St Mary’s.
GWS chief executive Dave Matthews, a former general manager of AFL Barwon who hails from the region, has been a key part of negotiations.
He will be speaking at a pre-match function at Geelong West on Saturday before Geelong West’s GDFNL and GFNL double-header at West Oval.
Geelong West coach Greg Mellor said the club is excited for what the opportunity holds on and off the field.
“We have 11 players in our senior side that are 20 and under and for someone like August Stelma, to have someone with the experience of Heath to instruct, teach and his voice as well,” Mellor said.
“It will be a great opportunity for us, double header at our ground with the GDFNL, the opportunity to bring in some people to come in and watch the game.
‘When the (Geelong West) Giants first came about, there was this relationship with Greater Western Sydney and the senior playing group and juniors.
“There was a connection base and it has dropped over the years, so with GWS having a game down here, there has been some conversations with our off-field people and Dave Matthews from Greater Western Sydney.
“They reached out and said they are going out to clubs that are wearing the Giants jumper and Heath Shaw is playing a game of footy for them.”
Geelong West’s leadership group was told last night, and leader Ethan Liddle believes it will help their players into the future.
“He talks a lot, so it will be a good opportunity for us current players playing alongside him. He’s got that AFL experience, so we see it as an opportunity to improve as a group,” Liddle said.
Shaw took out two All-Australian jackets, a Giants best-and-fairest and a premiership with Collingwood in 2010, famously smothering St Kilda legend Nick Riewoldt in the goalsquare in that deicder.
His last full season of footy came with Essendon District league club East Keilor in 2023.
Originally published as Former Collingwood and GWS star Heath Shaw set to play for Geelong West Giants
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