Click here to watch Heath Shaw discuss his leadership position with the media

JUST a week after being named in Collingwood's new seven-man leadership group, defender Heath Shaw has stated his intentions to one day captain the club his father and uncle once did with distinction.

"Definitely," Shaw said when asked if he would one day like to lead the Magpies.

"As a Collingwood supporter all my life and going through with my uncle and my dad captaining Collingwood, growing up pretty much that's all you want to do.

"You want to win a flag and you want to captain the club you barrack for.

"I think Maxxy's (Nick Maxwell) doing a good job at the moment, but in the future I'd be more than happy to."

Just 18 months ago that prospect would have seemed unfathomable, with the 24-year-old firmly on the outer at the Pies and his future at the club uncertain.

A drunken night out with teammate Alan Didak, after which the pair lied to Collingwood officials about their activities, resulted in the duo being suspended by the club for the remainder of the 2008 season.

But Shaw's stunning resurrection was confirmed last week when captain Maxwell announced Shaw had been included among the Pies' leadership group for 2010.

When asked about Shaw's inclusion, Maxwell went one step further, saying the dasher - whose father Ray and uncle Tony both skippered the Pies - could also one day lead the club.

Shaw said while he was not proud of his past indiscretion,  it may have helped him reach his current standing in the Pies' side.

"It was a long time ago now, but I'm always going to be referred back to that sort of incident," he said outside the newly-named Westpac Centre.

"But I've put it behind me and it might have made me a better person - and a good kick up the bum sometimes is a good thing for you."

On the field Shaw enjoyed arguably his finest season in 2009, finishing third in the Pies' Copeland Trophy.

Away from football, Shaw says he has changed a few things and the one-time bad boy believes his new outlook on life and footy can help the Pies achieve their own premiership dream.

"I had a bit of work to do on the off-field stuff but I've put that behind me now and I'm just happy to be in there," he said.

"Hopefully I can contribute to the team as a leader and take us a couple of steps further. You're out there to play football and you've got to do everything right to play your best and to be your best.

"So for me it was just about getting out there and leading by example on the track [and] off the track … hopefully I can help other people along with me and make sure our team's getting the best out of ourselves."