Rhyce Shaw

Rhyce Shaw
Personal information
Full nameRhyce Shaw
Date of birth16 October 1981
Original teamPreston Knights (TAC Cup)
Draft#18 (F/S), 1999 National Draft, Collingwood
Height/Weight183cm / 82kg
Position(s)Defender
Club information
Current clubSydney
Number2
Playing career1
YearsClubGames (Goals)
2000–2008
2009–
Total		Collingwood
Sydney		94 (20)
122 (23)
216 (43)
1 Playing statistics correct to end of Round 2, 2015 season.
Career highlights

Rhyce Shaw (born 16 October 1981) is an Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League.

AFL Career

Collingwood (2000-2008)

Shaw, son of former Collingwood captain Ray was drafted to Collingwood in the 1999 AFL Draft under the father-son rule at pick no.18. He made his debut late in 2000 because of a broken collarbone, he was impressive with 16 kicks, but his form disappeared and was dropped weeks later. Shaw had suffered from chronic fatigue syndrome as a junior and carried it into his AFL career.[1] His skills were ordinary, but his pace was an asset as a wingman. In 2001 and 2002 he only managed 1 senior game, but managed to be retained on the list. In 2003 Rhyce had experienced an improved season, and played 19 games. He wore Bob Rose's number 22 with pride, his heart on his sleeve, and when Rose's death in mid-2003 came about Shaw was a very emotional man, sporting his guernsey with initials B.R above the number. Shaw however had a nightmare finish to the season in the Grand Final against the Brisbane Lions. In one of the more infamous highlights of any Grand Final, he fumbled the ball, slipped and fell over at a crucial moment in the game, only to have an opposing player, Alastair Lynch, gain possession of the ball and kick a goal.[2]

In 2004 he played 16 games, but could not manage to play consistent footy, and he averaged under 10 touches per game. His slight late season form kept him at the club once again, but pondered thoughts of why into fans heads. 2005 however was a turning point for Shaw as he provided better skills on show and performed consistently. In the first 6 games he was averaging over 23 touches a game, including a career best 32 on The ANZAC Day clash against Essendon, before being stretchered off the field concussed. Mid-season he would rupture his ACL and require a knee reconstruction, missing the rest of the season. He bought up a long awaited 50th game in Round 11.

He returned mid-2006 and played 9 games, playing a similar brand of football of his improved 2005 season. He averaged just under 20 touches, and spent time in the VFL to gain back his best football touch. Shaw's 2007 season started off with a bang, with All-Australian form in the opening six rounds, before coaches applied more attention to Rhyce, and brother Heath. He averaged 23 disposals a game and more than 8 marks in that period. A hamstring injury, where he would be a late withdrawal for the Queen's Birthday match against Melbourne saw him miss five games and six weeks on the sidelines. He would return through the before breaking back into the side for four of the last five home and away games, with form not up to standard. He would be emergency for the finals on two occasions.

Rhyce played a successful role that es tablished him the backline or winger due to his pace in the 2008 season. He averaged 22 possessions a game in the first half of the season but slumped to a calf injury which prevented him from lining up in the team in the following weeks. He was named emergencies in most of the matches at the end of the home and away season. At the conclusion of the 2008 AFL season Rhyce requested to move up north due to his part earlier in 2008, where he was involved with brother Heath and teammate Alan Didak in a drink driving offence. Rhyce Shaw was traded to the Sydney Swans with pick 61 from Collingwood which Collingwood received pick 46 in the AFL Draft. The trade was made official on the 10 October 2008.[3]

Sydney Swans (2009-Present)

His move to the Swans revitalised his career, with his run off the half back line proving extremely potent. His contribution and value to the team was acknowledged by Shaw being officially named as part of the Swans leadership team.

In 2009, Shaw played the best football of his career as a running half back/back pocket player in the Swans' defence. He capped off a wonderful year by finishing 2nd in the Bob Skilton Medal to Ryan O'Keefe.[4]

In 2010, Shaw began to stagnate somewhat experiencing a deterioration in his disposal efficiency playing off half back. His form seemed to be stunted by the return of Tadhg Kennelly to the Swans' half back line and Nick Malceski returning to the best 22 after a few years in the wilderness. In the 2nd half of the year, however, a move to the forward line seemed to reinvigorate Shaw. He kicked 2 late goals against North Melbourne to seal a win for the side and then kicked 3 goals the next week against Carlton in a very polished performance. Shaw was later moved into the middle to tag the opposition's best players and did so to good effect. He played on and limited the influence of players such as Marc Murphy, Dan Giansiracusa and Stephen Hill.

Shaw enjoyed perhaps the best season of his career in 2011, culminating in him finishing equal 2nd in the Skilton Medal with Josh Kennedy (behind Adam Goodes). He combined tight defensive and tagging with strong rebound and run throughout the year to become one of the most consistent and well performed Swans for the season. He was also awarded the Best Clubman Award for 2011.[5]

Shaw followed up his strong 2011 season with another consistent display in the side's premiership winning year. He was deployed as the Swans' main defensive rebounder whilst also proving to be a tight and strong small defender.

Shaw played his 200th AFL game in Round 7, 2014, as the Sydney Swans upset the Brisbane Lions by 79 points at the Gabba.[6]

Personal life

Rhyce is the son of former captain Ray Shaw, and brother of Heath.[1] He is also the nephew of premiership captain and Norm Smith Medallist, Tony Shaw and former Collingwood player Neville Shaw. His cousin, Brayden (son of Tony) was drafted to Collingwood, but failed to play a game before being delisted in 2005.

Statistics

Statistics are correct to the end of Round 3, 2015[7]
Legend
 G  Goals  B  Behinds  K  Kicks  H  Handballs  D  Disposals  M  Marks  T  Tackles
Season Team # Games G B K H D M T G B K H D M T
Totals Averages (per game)
2000 Collingwood 22 3 3 0 23 3 26 11 3 1.0 0.0 7.7 1.0 8.7 3.7 1.0
2001 Collingwood 22 1 0 0 5 2 7 2 0 0.0 0.0 5.0 2.0 7.0 2.0 0.0
2002 Collingwood 22 0 — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
2003 Collingwood 22 19 2 0 172 64 236 75 21 0.1 0.0 9.1 3.4 12.4 3.9 1.1
2004 Collingwood 22 16 0 4 114 41 155 45 21 0.0 0.3 7.1 2.6 9.7 2.8 1.3
2005 Collingwood 22 12 4 4 141 76 217 63 11 0.3 0.3 11.8 6.3 18.1 5.3 0.9
2006 Collingwood 22 9 3 3 102 71 173 67 17 0.3 0.3 11.3 7.9 19.2 7.4 1.9
2007 Collingwood 22 14 3 2 165 77 242 83 31 0.2 0.1 11.8 5.5 17.3 5.9 2.2
2008 Collingwood 22 20 5 7 262 149 411 137 56 0.3 0.4 13.1 7.5 20.6 6.9 2.8
2009 Sydney 2 22 4 4 373 159 532 80 58 0.2 0.2 17.0 7.2 24.2 3.6 2.6
2010 Sydney 2 23 12 8 262 134 396 94 60 0.5 0.3 11.4 5.8 17.2 4.1 2.6
2011 Sydney 2 24 4 4 309 112 421 70 67 0.2 0.2 12.9 4.7 17.5 2.9 2.8
2012 Sydney 2 24 1 2 300 149 449 71 57 0.0 0.1 12.5 6.2 18.7 3.0 2.4
2013 Sydney 2 6 1 1 60 22 82 21 6 0.2 0.2 10.0 3.7 13.7 3.5 1.0
2014 Sydney 2 20 1 1 268 160 428 85 30 0.1 0.1 13.4 8.0 21.4 4.25 1.5
2015 Sydney 2 3 0 0 41 15 56 14 7 0.0 0.0 13.7 5.0 18.7 4.7 2.3
Career 216 43 40 2597 1234 3831 918 445 0.2 0.2 12.0 5.7 17.7 4.3 2.1

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Baum, Greg (28 March 2003). "No Shaw thing at the new Collingwood".
  2. ↑ Lalor, Peter (25 September 2012). "Rhyce Shaw still the risk-taker walking tightrope". The Australian.
  3. ↑ Morrissey, Tim (11 October 2008). "Rhyce Shaw is now a Swan". The Daily Telegraph.
  4. ↑ "Ryan O'Keefe wins Sydney Swans 2009 best and fairest award". Fox Sports. 11 September 2009.
  5. ↑ "Adam Goodes wins Bob Skilton Medal". 7 October 2011.
  6. ↑ Five talking points: Brisbane Lions v Sydney Swans, AFL.com.au official website, 3 May 2014
  7. ↑ Rhyce Shaw's player profile at AFL Tables

External links