Heath Shaw

[Lutts]

[Haff]

Can’t have it unfortunately. Left for a reason and seems to have grown up but is done. My most fond memory is of that smother, we won the game then and there. Thanks Heath, all the best!

[Lazza]

Still burnt from his lack of discipline that led to him being asked to move out from Collingwood. Not convinced that Heater is no longer a risk of getting back into bad habits. Best left alone.

[Pies2016]

[Lazza]

^^^^

Yes you have missed something. Heater has stated that he wants to play on. A few here have debated the pro’s and con’s of him returning to Collingwood.

[derkd]

[Mr Miyagi]

[The Boy Who Cried Wolf]

[Pies4shaw]

^ Collingwood folklore is a miserable thing.

Looking at that 2013 Elimination Final team, it is surprising we did not lose by 25 goals. Names like Marley Williams, Lachie Keeffe, Sam Dwyer, Brent Macaffer, Paul Seedsman and Josh Thomas hardly indicate, with the benefit of hindsight, a strong team. Add in a failing Alan Didak, a baby Thor (Jolly had done the bulk of the ruck work in 2013 but did not play in the final), Beams off a lengthy injury layoff etc etc and it is plain that was one very average (at best) football team. I remember not paying any attention to the game on the day (a finals first for me) because it was obvious they were going to get flogged. The angst after the event on here was, frankly, out of all proportion to the team's prospects of winning. I doubt that Heater "lost" us the game - a generalised lack of talent will do that for you in a final almost every time - but, in any event, that loss probably just saved us from a more embarrassing flogging by a better team later in the finals.

https://afltables.com/afl/stats/games/2013/041320130907.html

Ultimately, Heater was correct. 2013 Collingwood was a terrible team and it took 5 years to get the Club back to finals. A few days after that inevitable finals exit, Jolly and Dids were told they wouldn't be offered new contracts. Ben Johnson retired, the Thomas who could play went to Carlton, and Heater was traded for Adams.

I suppose we needed the list spaces to bring in Scharenberg, Freeman, White, Karnezis, Armstrong, Marsh and the Future Captain, and to elevate Sam Dwyer from the rookie list.

While we took the universe by storm with our newly acquired guns, Heater went on to play another 152 games for GWS. In that time, he played in 9 finals for GWS - and would have played in at least another 2 if he hadn't hurt his knee in 2018.

[Mr Miyagi]

Jolly was done (and didn’t get along with key players), Dids was done. Daisy had a dodgy ankle and was struggling. Let’s not go over this again! Also, Dwyer was playing good footy when he was rewarded. Blair overtook him though. Heater deserved getting told to leave and not let the door hit his ass on the way out. He admitted as much when he started playing good footy again at GWS, it was a wake up call. I remember Rhys said the same when he went to Sydney and suddenly no one gave a shit who his old man was aand he had to actually earn a spot through hard work.

[Piesnchess]

[Pies4shaw]

I'm not "going over this again". I'm just pointing out that Heater was one of a few really great footballers left in a reasonably awful football team. The criticism that he needed to "reform" is rubbish. He left the building and promptly starred for his new club and played a further 152 games for them, despite them having recruited most of the best talent in the country through the draft. GWS traded us their 10th-best midfielder (don't make me go through the list) for our best defender. Let's not pretend they didn't fall over themselves to get him.

[Mr Miyagi]

Oh for sure, I wish he’d stayed, but I don’t think the teammates he pissed off were as forgiving.

[The Boy Who Cried Wolf]

No I think it was a Bucks blow up looking for someone to blame other than himself, same old story..

[Mr Miyagi]

Nope, definitely a few angry teammates who’d had enough. Remember it wasn’t his first incident.