Tony Shaw
Encyclopedia
Anthony 'Tony' Shaw is a former Australian rules football
er, coach and media personality.
from Reservoir
-Lakeside to make his debut in 1977 alongside brother Ray. He was a small midfielder at 170 cm who didn't have the likes of natural ability or quality skills but his courage and determination made him a fine rover. He did struggle in his early years to cement a senior position in the team. Shaw played in the 1980–1981 losing Grand Final sides.
In 1984, Shaw won the Copeland Trophy
as the Magpies best and fairest player for the season, as well as playing with second brother Neville. After another couple seasons of the club failing to make the finals, Shaw took over the captaincy left by Mark Williams
in 1987, but the side failed in the new look competition, finishing 12th.
In 1990 Shaw captained the club to a historic premiership, the club's first in 32 years, defeating the Essendon
. Shaw's 35 touches saw him earn the Norm Smith Medal
as best on ground. In the same season, Shaw won his second Copeland Trophy
.
In 1991, against the Brisbane Bears, Shaw had 50 disposals which is the second most disposals in a game (trailing Greg Williams' record of 53 set in 1989).
Injuries got the better of him in years to come, but he continued impressing as a centreman despite the constant struggle of getting on the park injury-free. At the end of 1993 he was considering retirement but played on, despite handing the captaincy to premiership team-mate Gavin Brown. 1994 was his last year, but he broke several records. In round 9, against North Melbourne
, he played his 300th game, and 9 weeks later against Footscray, he broke Gordon Coventry
's club VFL/AFL games record of 306 games. Shaw's last game was played at the WACA
in an elimination final which the Magpies lost by two points.
Shaw retired in a tearful farewell with 313 VFL/AFL games to his name and 159 goals.
ended a stint at Collingwood as coach, Shaw would be appointed the new coach for the 1996 season, only two seasons after retirement. A leader on the field, Shaw was unsuccessful off the field, as coach. In 1996 he would guide them to 11th place, and his best effort came in 1997 when the club finished 10th. Shaw could never improve and get the potential Pies out of the bottom, coaching them to the clubs second wooden spoon in 1999, after that Shaw was sacked as Collingwood coach.
before joining the Fox Footy Channel
as a commentator/special comments for several seasons.
In 1991, Shaw was appointed Moomba
Monarch (popularly called King of Moomba).
His son, Brayden, was drafted to Collingwood in 2003, but failed to play a game before being delisted in 2005, before moving on to Port Melbourne
in the VFL
.
In March 2006, Shaw returned to media focus when he publicly criticised the AFL for the consistent introduction of new rules.
Shaw was selected to present the Norm Smith Medal
to the best player in the 2008 AFL Grand Final
, which was Luke Hodge
from .
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er, coach and media personality.
Playing career
Shaw was recruited to CollingwoodCollingwood Football Club
The Collingwood Football Club, nicknamed The Magpies, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
from Reservoir
Reservoir, Victoria
Reservoir is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 12 km north from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Darebin. At the 2006 Census, Reservoir had a population of 45,970....
-Lakeside to make his debut in 1977 alongside brother Ray. He was a small midfielder at 170 cm who didn't have the likes of natural ability or quality skills but his courage and determination made him a fine rover. He did struggle in his early years to cement a senior position in the team. Shaw played in the 1980–1981 losing Grand Final sides.
In 1984, Shaw won the Copeland Trophy
Copeland Trophy
The E.W. Copeland Trophy is an Australian rules football award given by the Collingwood Football Club to the player adjudged Best and Fairest for Collingwood during the year....
as the Magpies best and fairest player for the season, as well as playing with second brother Neville. After another couple seasons of the club failing to make the finals, Shaw took over the captaincy left by Mark Williams
Mark M. Williams
Mark "Choco" Williams is a former Australian rules footballer who coached the Port Adelaide Football Club in the Australian Football League from 1999 to 2010...
in 1987, but the side failed in the new look competition, finishing 12th.
In 1990 Shaw captained the club to a historic premiership, the club's first in 32 years, defeating the Essendon
Essendon Football Club
The Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
. Shaw's 35 touches saw him earn the Norm Smith Medal
Norm Smith Medal
The Norm Smith Medal is the award given in the AFL Grand Final to the player adjudged by an independent panel of experts to have been the best player in the match.-History:The Norm Smith Medal is named after former Melbourne player and coach, Norm Smith...
as best on ground. In the same season, Shaw won his second Copeland Trophy
Copeland Trophy
The E.W. Copeland Trophy is an Australian rules football award given by the Collingwood Football Club to the player adjudged Best and Fairest for Collingwood during the year....
.
In 1991, against the Brisbane Bears, Shaw had 50 disposals which is the second most disposals in a game (trailing Greg Williams' record of 53 set in 1989).
Injuries got the better of him in years to come, but he continued impressing as a centreman despite the constant struggle of getting on the park injury-free. At the end of 1993 he was considering retirement but played on, despite handing the captaincy to premiership team-mate Gavin Brown. 1994 was his last year, but he broke several records. In round 9, against North Melbourne
North Melbourne Football Club
The North Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Kangaroos, is the fourth oldest Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League and is one of the oldest sporting clubs in Australia and the world...
, he played his 300th game, and 9 weeks later against Footscray, he broke Gordon Coventry
Gordon Coventry
Gordon "Nuts" Coventry was an Australian rules footballer who played for Collingwood Football Club in the Victorian Football League . With 1,299 goals over 18 seasons, Coventry remains one of the greatest full forwards the game has ever seen...
's club VFL/AFL games record of 306 games. Shaw's last game was played at the WACA
WACA Ground
The WACA is a sports stadium in Perth, Western Australia. WACA are the initials of its owners and operators, the Western Australian Cricket Association....
in an elimination final which the Magpies lost by two points.
Shaw retired in a tearful farewell with 313 VFL/AFL games to his name and 159 goals.
Coaching career
As Leigh MatthewsLeigh Matthews
Leigh Raymond "Lethal Leigh" Matthews AM is a former player and coach of Australian rules football. He played for Hawthorn in the Victorian Football League from 1969 to 1985, coached Collingwood from 1986–1995, and coached the Brisbane Lions from 1999 to 2008...
ended a stint at Collingwood as coach, Shaw would be appointed the new coach for the 1996 season, only two seasons after retirement. A leader on the field, Shaw was unsuccessful off the field, as coach. In 1996 he would guide them to 11th place, and his best effort came in 1997 when the club finished 10th. Shaw could never improve and get the potential Pies out of the bottom, coaching them to the clubs second wooden spoon in 1999, after that Shaw was sacked as Collingwood coach.
Post-Football
Shaw became a media commentator after his coaching role, commentating on radio for 3AW3AW
3AW is a talkback radio station in Melbourne, Australia on 693 kHz AM. It began transmission on 22 February 1932 as Melbourne's fifth commercial radio station.-History:...
before joining the Fox Footy Channel
Fox Footy Channel
The Fox Footy Channel was a channel exclusively dedicated to Australian rules football. It was owned by Foxtel, and operated out of their Melbourne based studios. It was available on Foxtel, Austar, Optus Television, TransTV and Neighbourhood Cable up until transmission was ceased on 1 October 2006...
as a commentator/special comments for several seasons.
In 1991, Shaw was appointed Moomba
Moomba
Moomba is Australia's largest free community festival and one of the longest running festivals in Australia. Held annually in the city of Melbourne, Australia, Moomba is celebrated during the Labour Day long weekend , and has been celebrated since 1955...
Monarch (popularly called King of Moomba).
His son, Brayden, was drafted to Collingwood in 2003, but failed to play a game before being delisted in 2005, before moving on to Port Melbourne
Port Melbourne Football Club
The Port Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Borough, is an Australian rules football club based in the Melbourne suburb of Port Melbourne and is currently playing in the Victorian Football League ....
in the VFL
VFL
VFL can refer to:Sport* Victorian Football League, an Australian rules football league formerly known as the Victorian Football Association prior to 1996....
.
In March 2006, Shaw returned to media focus when he publicly criticised the AFL for the consistent introduction of new rules.
Shaw was selected to present the Norm Smith Medal
Norm Smith Medal
The Norm Smith Medal is the award given in the AFL Grand Final to the player adjudged by an independent panel of experts to have been the best player in the match.-History:The Norm Smith Medal is named after former Melbourne player and coach, Norm Smith...
to the best player in the 2008 AFL Grand Final
2008 AFL Grand Final
The 2008 AFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football match contested between the Geelong Football Club and the Hawthorn Football Club, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne on the 27th of September 2008...
, which was Luke Hodge
Luke Hodge
Luke Hodge is a professional Australian rules footballer with the Hawthorn Football Club in the Australian Football League...
from .