Nice to see Rhyce step up despite nay-sayers

[Lenz]

From the Herald-Sun this morning

Michael Horan March 24, 2008 12:00am

ANTHONY Rocca was in demand for radio interviews, so, too, were new boys Nathan Brown and Cameron Wood, who played well in Collingwood's Round 1 win against Fremantle. But when it came to kudos, one man who deserved a bucket full was unassuming Magpie stalwart Rhyce Shaw.

Shaw, who said he was surprised to still be in the AFL system, proved a point to himself, his coaching staff and the Magpies' faithful at the MCG on Saturday. In his ninth season, he stepped up to be a vital cog in the side's midfield rotation.

After an injury-plagued 2007 that saw him dumped for the finals, a fitter, lighter and hungrier Shaw is hell bent on claiming one of the midfield berths vacated by Nathan Buckley and Paul Licuria. "I came back for three games (late last season) but I wasn't right and then didn't get a game in the finals," Shaw said. "I was really disappointed. That was just another kick up the bum for me."

His new found determination was sparked by sitting in the stands during the finals, watching younger brother Heath play his part in getting Collingwood to within a kick of the Grand Final. And he knew his career was as the crossroads soon after when he was touted as a trade possibility. "I worked really hard pre-season," Shaw said. "I want to play midfield, so I lost five or six kilos and worked really hard on my ground ball and stoppages. I just trained my arse off to be honest. That's all I did. Worked hard every day, gave it my all. I played all the practice games, put my hand up for the middle and I got in there today and played my role. It's fantastic. I'm rapt. I'm thankful to (assistant coach Guy) Bluey McKenna for giving me the opportunity. If he didn't, who knows. It's a tenuous life, the footy.

Shaw has played just 75 games since his debut in 2000 but, the experience, maturity and extra fitness he has at 26, suggest he has a positive future. There was less than a kick between the sides at each change on Saturday before the Pies charged away, with Shaw getting his hands on the footy six times in the final term. "It's a pretty hard game against Freo, it always is," Shaw said. "But the tempo of the game was really controlled by us in many respects. We really should have won by more."

 

[Hinesight]

Got the votes behind Rocca from both coaches, was wondering who would step up into the midfield, didn't figure on Rhyce but 5 centre clearances

 

[itsacakewalk]

Got the votes behind Rocca from both coaches, was wondering who would step up into the midfield, didn't figure on Rhyce but 5 centre clearances

we r shaw that he is going to have a great year as one of our best mid fielders

 

[wicksy]

LOL Hinesight..... Red carded buddy?

BTW above post is very clever....hehe I was just about to give you $hit about not knowing da english until I worked it out.

 

[Frederlick]

Loved watching him play so well. May find a real role in the new high rotation game plan. Mick will need fresh players every week if thay are to play at this rate and that means nearly every utility/small will rotate midfield at some time or other. Never too late for redemption Rhyce.

 

[Swooop]

I believe Collingwood really need Rhyce Shaw's running ability and the strength of his all round game. I'm predicting he will have a career defining season this year

 

[pongo_3931]

His speed was great and he was very much on the ball. I felt his disposals were a bit hit and miss.

The time I most love watching Rhyce play is when he's near Heath. Everytime they're close they just seem to work in tandom together so well. Caught that once last week. As he slips back into full form (as I don't think he's there yet) there'll be another strong midfield / defence element on ground.

 

[derro]

he was only crap last season becuase coming off knee reco, was the worst time to trade him. was glad we didnt

 

[aydo]

just needs to get his kicking right and he will be a pretty big smokie for us, has some of that pace that we need. a couple of times on saturday he did the worst clangers when free however, i just had to shake my head (flashbacks of '03). mostly though his kicking is good.

 

[mightypies9]

watched the replay on tape the other day and ill admit i was wrong, after hearing peoples opinions i watched him closer then i did first up, and he did damn well, i guess i didnt look him closely, turns it over still, but i guess he always will, but he has pace that we needed when pendles, clarke and so on didnt do much for us.

well done rhyce

 

[shawthing09]

A lot of Rhyce's crictics still haven't forgiven for the Tragic g/f effort he put in against brisbane, I never thought I would either. Since then his hardiness and work ethic have been awesome and whilst not a hard nut of the game he is certainly not the softest going around either, his footskills are still questionable but they also where much better then they have been on saturday.

 

[Lockyer24]

Great effort last week, got a few clearances, ran a lot and worked hard.

But he still sprays a lot of kicks. To be an effective player he has to tighten up this game or he will forever have sceptics

 

[Snag Breac]

He certainly covered a bit of ground last week. I took about 100 pictures and he pops up in them more than any other player. Egan also features regularly.

 

[Optimax]

was awesome too rhyce play really well last week, try real hard every week and has been given so real undue criticism over the years.

Hopefully he really turns it on at the gabba tomorrow night

 

[Big Bucks]

Rhyce has it all too do before him, has been on the list 9 years and played how many games? 75. his acid test is against the Lions on Friday night, a team that has left him with phsycological scars and doubts.
he needs to still improve his disposal, as other than his hard running and pace he doesn,t offer much else.

 

[Fadge]

I must qualify this post by saying that I didn't see the game on Saturday though I listened to it whilst on a road trip in the car, but...

I notice the quotes from some of the previous posters:
'he still needs to improve his disposal...'
'a couple of times he did the worst clangers...'

Football is all about quality of disposal. He will never get any attention from the opposition whilst he goes around getting 25 possessions and fail to be damaging with them. He needs to watch how Joel Selwood goes about it - values every possession, stands up in a tackle, hard as a nut.

He is living proof that with the right surname one is halfway there to the AFL...

 

[Big Bucks]

Half of the kids running around in the E.D.F.L are more damaging footballers than R,Shaw,but as you say with that surname at Collingwood nepotism comes to the forefront of judgement.

 

[Frederlick]

Half of the kids running around in the E.D.F.L are more damaging footballers than R,Shaw,but as you say with that surname at Collingwood nepotism comes to the forefront of judgement.

I'm sure heaps of kids in the EDFL would get 20+ posesssions at the MCG against Freo. The wonder boy Clarke dropped and the old battler retained all they can go on is form and Rhyce had it last week.

 

[Coin_Toss]

If anybody can find my post about midfield rotations in the off season, I would be absolutely stoked. I said Rhyce will step up and become a permanent midfielder and not just a stop gap player til the kids develop. I wouldn't be surprised if he got the big job on Black tonight. Heck, someone needs to stop him!

 

[Hinesight]

LOL Hinesight..... Red carded buddy?

Well a famous man once said truth costs more than gold

Don't bother googling it.. it was me

 

[Anth_5]

Half of the kids running around in the E.D.F.L are more damaging footballers than R,Shaw,but as you say with that surname at Collingwood nepotism comes to the forefront of judgement.

Rhyce is in the side to stay now, i had doubts about him when he first started out and especially after the poor showing last year, but remember he had just come back from a knee reco, and as we have seen with every player, coming back from a long term injury like that is not easy (Chris Judd is a fine example). Rhyce has the pace and the ball winning ability to cement a spot in our midfield. Although he doesn't have the best skills, I believe they are better than that of Johnson's.

 

[burtpies]

Rhyce is in the side to stay now, i had doubts about him when he first started out and especially after the poor showing last year, but remember he had just come back from a knee reco, and as we have seen with every player, coming back from a long term injury like that is not easy (Chris Judd is a fine example). Rhyce has the pace and the ball winning ability to cement a spot in our midfield. Although he doesn't have the best skills, I believe they are better than that of Johnson's.

Pls NEVER use Chris Judd in the same quote as Rhyce Shaw (GIMP) unless you are saying that they both have knees. I have pace too but my dispossal skills are lacking does that mean I can get into the midfield? Remember he plays a couple of good games at the start of the year and that gets him a couple more but by season end he'll be back in the magoos. Sorry but it is the same old story with Rhyce every season. I think a change of club would be great for him, get a new look at things look what the change of club has done for chris Tarrent. (mmmm maybe I'll need to rethink that.)

 

[skeetz]

Why on earth would a change of club do him good?
It has worked wonders for Cam Cloke who just wasn't working hard enough, and Heath Scotland who needed a bit more faith from the coaching staff. Rhyce has none of these problems. He works his ass off, isn't complacent, and the coaching staff will always give him a go if he is fit and in reasonable form. Changing club won't miraculously improve his disposal efficiency or quality. This will only come with time spent in the big league without the constant injury problems he's had.
It's all coming good though it seems. If he gets another long-term injury, it will probably be over for him. But if he stays fit and healthy this is the best chance he has had for his whole career. Confidence from MM and Bluey, a spot in the team up for grabs, and a mature football mind in a very young team, Rhyce looks like he will be doing all he can to seeze this opportunity with both hands. He is in the side now, he has only himself to blame if he can't hold onto it.
Go Rhycey!!!

 

[Big Bucks]

Why on earth would a change of club do him good?
It has worked wonders for Cam Cloke who just wasn't working hard enough, and Heath Scotland who needed a bit more faith from the coaching staff. Rhyce has none of these problems. He works his ass off, isn't complacent, and the coaching staff will always give him a go if he is fit and in reasonable form. Changing club won't miraculously improve his disposal efficiency or quality. This will only come with time spent in the big league without the constant injury problems he's had.
It's all coming good though it seems. If he gets another long-term injury, it will probably be over for him. But if he stays fit and healthy this is the best chance he has had for his whole career. Confidence from MM and Bluey, a spot in the team up for grabs, and a mature football mind in a very young team, Rhyce looks like he will be doing all he can to seeze this opportunity with both hands. He is in the side now, he has only himself to blame if he can't hold onto it.
Go Rhycey!!!

Rhyce does have a problem with the coaching staff, they have no faith in him, thats why they wanted to trade him.
I will take Scotland every day of the week over Rhyce,
Scotland knows how to find a teamate on a consistent basis.

 

[Hinesight]

Rhyce does have a problem with the coaching staff, they have no faith in him, thats why they wanted to trade him.

Conjecture, supposition, rumour and innuendo