Take it back

[A Warrior named Lica]

Okay experts...time to fess up.

Were you one of the people who simply 'wrote off' Heath Shaw and Travis Cloke under the whole 'Too many Shaws and Clokes at Collingwood'.

I am a realist...Collingwood are far from world beaters.

BUT, these two boys can play.

 

[worthy]

Okay experts...time to fess up.

Were you one of the people who simply 'wrote off' Heath Shaw and Travis Cloke under the whole 'Too many Shaws and Clokes at Collingwood'.

I am a realist...Collingwood are far from world beaters.

BUT, these two boys can play.

I'm not one, but, there were too many and the bad ones have been thinned out, so they were actually correct.

 

[scarecrow2k1]

Yeah why take it back, the statement has proved to be correct

 

[royals1922]

Be a little bit cautious here.

Mark McGough won an ANZAC Day Medal - where is he now.

One good game usually does not make a career.

 

[cakewalk06]

Be a little bit cautious here.

Mark McGough won an ANZAC Day Medal - where is he now.

One good game usually does not make a career.

good call.. keep a lid on the hype.. a couple of years of consistent performances from Travis and you can say he's arrived...

 

[A Warrior named Lica]

I was actually referring to the two lads, Heath and Travis, not those who have gone.

I think in Heaths case, he is far from Mark McGough, having proven his worth over quite a few games now.

Travis still has a way to go, but looks a good option.

MY POINT: They are worthy of a little credit given all their bad press.

 

[worthy]

I was actually referring to the two lads, Heath and Travis, not those who have gone.

I think in Heaths case, he is far from Mark McGough, having proven his worth over quite a few games now.

Travis still has a way to go, but looks a good option.

MY POINT: They are worthy of a little credit given all their bad press.

Heath is an excellent player, 3rd ? in the RS last year, most acknowledge he's going alright.

Travis Cloke, whilst I think he looks good for a young KPP, he does lead the league in clangers.

 

[A Warrior named Lica]

Looks like I am not the only one...

Burgo’s take: How good is Heath Shaw?


By Matt Burgan, Exclusive to AFL BigPond Network
News
It's a big call, but is Heath Shaw Collingwood's most valuable player?

He was simply awesome against Essendon and a monty for the Anzac Day Medal.

Shaw finished his afternoon with 32 disposals; 23 of them kicks – 22 were effective – and nine handballs. He easily topped Champion Data’s rankings, notching up a whopping 175 points.

But more impressive than his stats were his dash and rebound from half-back, his precision kicking and constant hard running.

He produced a crucial smother when Essendon goalsneak Angus Monfries appeared set to snap truly, while his out-marking of Mark Johnson on the wing in the final term typified his four-quarter game.

It was a remarkable individual performance, particularly given the quick turnaround from last Saturday's match against Port Adelaide.

Shaw was a vastly underrated performer in 2006, his breakthrough season, and although Port Adelaide's Danyle Pearce was a thoroughly deserved winner of last year's Rising Star, Shaw certainly wouldn't have looked out of place had he claimed the award.

There was a perception last year that he racked up 'cheap kicks' – often an unfair criticism of attacking half-backs.

Half-backs/rebounding defenders are massively important in today's game. Adelaide's Andrew McLeod is among the early favourites for this year's Brownlow Medal, thanks to his influence from this position.

Others such as Sydney's Tadhg Kennelly, Carlton's Heath Scotland and Hawthorn's Luke Hodge are important for their respective teams off half-back. Kennelly is having a ripping season, while Scotland is finally starting to gain the recognition he deserves. Hodge, when he is not cutting loose in the midfield, is a gem in this area.

Which brings us back to the question: how valuable is Shaw to Collingwood?

He was selected as a father/son pick at a distant No.48 in the 2003 NAB AFL Draft, with his cousin Brayden Shaw chosen ahead of him as a father/son selection at No.32. Brayden was then widely considered to be the far superior player.

Brayden didn't play for Collingwood, while Heath had to bide his time before making his AFL debut in round 17, 2005. Although the jury appeared out on him from the beginning, he made an immediate impression with 22 disposals on debut against St Kilda. He soon began to silence the doubters.

After finishing third in last year's NAB AFL Rising Star Medal, Shaw also claimed an equal-fourth placing in the club's Copeland Trophy.

Dane Swan and Scott Burns are just two other Magpies to have fine starts to 2007, but Shaw's star has risen again after his Anzac Day performance.

He is already an integral part of the Magpies’ make-up.

When you consider the likes of Nathan Buckley, James Clement and Alan Didak, it's a massive call to suggest Shaw is now bordering on Collingwood's best player. Naturally, he remains a long way from matching those players’ achievements – but the evidence suggests he has the goods, and time is on his side.

In his 33 matches, Shaw has displayed incredible consistency for the Pies. His hard work and ability to set up much of Collingwood's attack makes him pivotal to the club’s future success.

 

[thegrach]

Okay experts...time to fess up.

Were you one of the people who simply 'wrote off' Heath Shaw and Travis Cloke under the whole 'Too many Shaws and Clokes at Collingwood'.

I am a realist...Collingwood are far from world beaters.

BUT, these two boys can play.

If you take 8, at least 2 of them should be able to play!

 

[A Warrior named Lica]

If you take 8, at least 2 of them should be able to play!

Hows your maths?

 

[thegrach]

Hows your maths?

They would be better than yours if you are really Paul Licuria!

 

[Foot Tickler]

They would be better than yours if you are really Paul Licuria!

He's a warrior (in leather and spandex) who's a licker.

Hmm, may make a great team, me and him.

 

[cammo78]

Okay experts...time to fess up.

Were you one of the people who simply 'wrote off' Heath Shaw and Travis Cloke under the whole 'Too many Shaws and Clokes at Collingwood'.

I am a realist...Collingwood are far from world beaters.

BUT, these two boys can play.

whatever paul...

 

[PHX]

Shaw can play. He's a ripper.

No where near convinced of Travis though. Good presenter. Dodgey mark, worse kick.

 

[bzparkes]

Shaw can play. He's a ripper.

No where near convinced of Travis though. Good presenter. Dodgey mark, worse kick.

Sounds like Quinten Lynch..

 

[Butane]

Okay experts...time to fess up.

Were you one of the people who simply 'wrote off' Heath Shaw and Travis Cloke under the whole 'Too many Shaws and Clokes at Collingwood'.

I am a realist...Collingwood are far from world beaters.

BUT, these two boys can play.

LOL WTF? There were to many Cloke's!Travis is the best, but i suppose it was 3rd time lucky.