A CHANGE in Collingwood defender Heath Shaw's attitude has helped him turn the tables on his form over the past fortnight, according to teammate Dane Swan.

Shaw's impact has wavered this season, with coach Mick Malthouse recently admitting he hadn't had his best year.

However, after relatively lean outings against the Brisbane Lions, the Western Bulldogs and Melbourne, he has recorded 26 and 25 touches over the past two weeks against the Sydney Swans and West Coast respectively.

> Watch Jarryd Blair speak to CTV about his debut on Saturday night

Swan said Shaw's running ability, highlighted with his eight rebounds against the Eagles, was "hugely important" to the side's success.

"He gets a tag most weeks now; he usually always gets a defensive forward," Swan said after Saturday night's 83-point win over West Coast.

"He's had to work through that for the first half of the year and his work rate is really coming through now.

"He's starting to play some terrific footy. His attitude has changed; before he might have just copped the tag but still got in the right position for us and blocked up holes.

"Now he's turning it into offence as well and getting in the right spots and running forward and getting the ball. We need it in his hands because he's such a good user of it."

Swan also said Leon Davis was on the verge of returning to form after a 17-possession game that was highlighted by his involvement in a handful of goals.

> Watch the players sing the song in the rooms after the win

"The coach is still very positive towards him and we know it will turn for him," Swan said.

"He's been a bit down but hopefully this was his breakout game and it turns for him from here."

With players such as Paul Medhurst, Josh Fraser and Shane O'Bree playing in the VFL, Swan said the Pies were well placed given the hot competition for spots.

"We've got huge depth. We've got a lot of talent in the reserves," he said.

"It shows there's pressure for spots and that no one is safe in the club at the moment.

"Hopefully the blokes underneath us push up and that creates good form."

Swan said Saturday night's big win over the Eagles was an important psychological boost for the side.
"It's been well documented that sometimes we lose these games but we made it huge focus to start well and we get out there early, and we did that," he said.

"We got away from what we were doing in the second quarter. We got a bit lazy and just thought it was going to happen.

"We spoke about putting the foot on the throat and I though we did that after half time."