COLLINGWOOD defender Heath Shaw has carried on his impressive Grand Final form from last year to win the Michael Tuck Medal for his best-on-ground performance in his side's 22-point NAB Cup win over Essendon.

Shaw had 25 touches in the Pies' defeat of the Bombers and was instrumental in running the ball out of defence with six rebounds.

After being trialled in attack throughout the pre-season, Shaw returned to his more familiar surroundings across half back and spent time on Angus Monfries and David Zaharakis.

Along with Leon Davis, who was also important in a new role in defence, Shaw was integral to the Pies' triumph after the Bombers mounted a serious comeback in the second half that cut their 34-point lead to just three.

Shaw said after the game the emergence of several new defensive options had put pressure on the established back six to prove themselves again.

The Magpies won Friday night's grand final without injured trio Nick Maxwell, Nathan Brown and Ben Reid, and their replacements doing a more than adequate job in their absence.

"I think there are going to be more options. Browny, Reidy and Maxy were out of that side tonight. Lachy Keefe has stepped up, Simon Buckley has stepped up and Leon. Obviously Taz (Chris Tarrant) has come in," Shaw said.

"Those guys have all shown over the NAB Cup series they can play down there. Competiton for spots is going to be very tight and that is going to help guys like Harry (O'Brien), myself and those guys to get better. We know if we don't improve, we don't get better then they'll take our spot."

But Shaw said he was happy to have Davis join him as a fellow running back.

"Leon is a veteran player, he knows the game. His offence is amazing. He uses the ball really well. I think tonight a couple of times he showed his one-on-one contests are up there with anyone," he said.

"He's hard to beat, he's quick and that is all the attributes you need for a backman or a forward. For Leon, he is enjoying his time down there as well and it is exciting."

Shaw was reluctant to talk up his own performance, but said facing Essendon in a Grand Final environment was the perfect lead-in to the season proper.

"You don't go out there to win an award like this. Grand Finals are hard to come by, we are out there to win every week and leading up into this game against a rival like Essendon who were going pretty well, we wanted to stamp our authority pretty early on," he said.

"We play them in round five so we get a good look at them in a good hit-out in a Grand Final. That's perfect leading into a Grand Final as well."

Shaw was also important in last year's pair of Grand Finals, having amassed 40 kicks across the two games as well as instigating the key moment of the replay when he ran down Nick Riewoldt in the goal square.

Voting for the Michael Tuck Medal in the 2011 NAB Cup.
 
Judges votes:
6 - Heath Shaw, Collingwood
5 - Andrew Krakouer, Collingwood
4 - Michael Hurley, Essendon
3 - Leon Davis, Collingwood
 
Luke Darcy (Triple M, Chairman)
3 - Heath Shaw
2 - Andrew Krakouer
1 - Michael Hurley
 
Stan Alves (ABC Radio)
3 - Heath Shaw
2 - Michael Hurley
1 - Andrew Krakouer
 
Scott Gullan (Herald Sun)
3 - Leon Davis
2 - Andrew Krakouer
1 - Michael Hurley