> Watch the interview with Heath Shaw on stage at the Crown PalladiumAfter a sensational second half of the season, Heath Shaw produced his best return at the Copeland Trophy finishing third with 43 votes, having previously finished equal fourth in 2006 and fifth in 2007.
In his fifth season at the club since arriving via pick 48 overall (father-son selection) in the 2003 AFL Draft, Shaw produced career-best numbers averaging 23 disposals per game.
Adding a string to his bow this season, Shaw’s work rate on the field was impressive, collecting 167 running bounces for the year which led the league.
He didn’t poll his first match committee vote until round nine, but then polled in every game bar one (round 14) thereafter, including finals.
Shaw polled two match committee votes six times including the Round 20 win over Richmond when the defender received three Brownlow votes for his defensive effort over Nathan Brown.
His performances in the finals series saw Shaw jump from sixth in the voting after 22 rounds to third after the preliminary final.
Shaw was one of the best Magpies in the electrifying semi-final win over Adelaide at the MCG collecting a team-high 29 disposals and six marks. He earned two votes from the match committee taking him one vote behind Harry O’Brien for third spot.
In the preliminary final loss, Shaw was one of only three players (Maxwell, Brown) to receive a match committee vote. It was enough to take him to 43 votes; equal with O’Brien, but due to Shaw playing four less than matches than his teammate, the 23-year-old took out his first J.J. Joyce Trophy.
He was also the joint winner of the Bob Rose Trophy (best player in the finals) with Nick Maxwell.
