Tony Shaw (Australian rules footballer)
| Tony Shaw | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| File:Noimage | |||
| Personal information | |||
| Original team(s) | Reservoir-Lakeside | ||
| Debut | 1977, Collingwood | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
|
Collingwood (1977-94) 313 Games, 159 goals | |||
| Coaching career | |||
|
Collingwood (1996-99) 88 matches (30 wins, 58 losses) | |||
|
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1949. | |||
| Career highlights | |||
|
| |||
| Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com | |||
Anthony 'Tony' Shaw (born July 23, 1960) is a former Australian rules footballer and media personality.
Playing career
Shaw was recruited to Collingwood from Reservoir-Lakeside to make his debut in 1977 along-side brother Ray. He was a small midfielder at 170cm who didn't have the likes of natural ability or quality skills but his courage and determination made him a fine rover. He did struggle in his early years to get a senior spot cemented, but in the 1980's he would have done so. Shaw played in the 1980-81 losing Grand Final sides, and would continue to be a loved player beyond the boundary for the way he went about his football, and his loyalty to the 'Black and White'.
In 1984, Shaw would win the Copeland Trophy as the Magpies best and fairest player for the season, as well as playing with second brother Neville. It was a big year for Shaw as he would earn even more respect, and stick it up his early critics. After another couple seasons of the club failing to make the finals, Shaw would take over the captaincy left by Mark Williams in 1987, but the side would fail in the new look competition, finishing 12th, but his captaincy was not questioned.
Hard work took place, and was finally achieved in 1990 when Shaw captained the club to a historic premiership, the club's first in 32 years. Shaw's inspirational footy on the day would help the team defeat Essendon, and Shaw's 35 touches saw him earn the Norm Smith Medal as best on ground. In the same season, Shaw would be the fine leader winning his second Copeland Trophy.
Injuries would get the better of him in years to come, but he would continue impressing as a centreman despite the constant struggle of getting on the park injury-free. At the end of 1993 he was considering retirement but played on, despite handing the captaincy to premiership team-mate Gavin Brown. 1994 would be his last year, but he would make the most of it, making records. In round 9, against North Melbourne, he would play his 300th game, and 9 weeks later against Footscray, he would break Gordon Coventry's club VFL/AFL games record of 306 games. Shaw's last game would be played at the W.A.C.A Ground in an elimination final which would see heartbreak as the Pies failed by two points.
Shaw retired in a tearful farewell with 313 VFL/AFL games to his name and 159 goals.
Coaching career
As Leigh Matthews ended a stint at Collingwood as coach, Shaw would be appointed the new coach for the 1996 season, only two seasons after retirement. A leader on the field, Shaw was unsuccessful off the field, as coach. In 1996 he would guide them to 11th place, and his best effort came in 1997 when the club finished 10th. Shaw could never improve and get the potential Pies out of the bottom, coaching them to the clubs second wooden spoon in 1999, in what would be his final year as coach.
Post-Football
Shaw became a respected media commentator after his coaching role, commentating on radio for 3AW before joining the Fox Footy Channel as a commentator/special comments for several seasons.
His son, Brayden, would be drafted to Collingwood in 2003, but would fail to play a game before being delisted in 2005, before moving on to Port Melbourne in the VFL.
In March 2006, Shaw returned to media focus when he publicly criticised the AFL for the consistent introduction of new rules. [1].
References
- Profile on fullpointsfooty.net
- Tony Shaw's playing statistics from AFL Tables