Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley believes the club's youngsters can learn what not to do from Heath Shaw's past errors as the defender was welcomed back into the Magpies' leadership group on Friday.
Speaking on Friday morning, Buckley revealed the 26-year-old was voted back into the club's leadership group by his team-mates, despite being suspended for eight matches and fined $20,000 last season in an AFL gambling sting midway through the year.
Shaw placed a bet on a Collingwood match involving the Adelaide Crows and his absence towards the back end of the season saw the Magpies defence struggle for number leading into their unsuccessful finals campaign.
In a somewhat contradictory press conference, though, Buckley said he expects his players to act according to their leader's examples.
Although in Shaw's case, the waters seem a little muddied.
"We've also spent a lot of time examining what a Collingwood footballer looks like, the qualities and the values that he lives by, that he behaves by, and that he prepares for his football by and I think the playing group have chosen wisely," said Buckley.
"I think you talk about influence, Heath's got great influence on the playing group."
"Heater's made a few errors over the time, as everyone has, and perhaps that puts him in a even better position to be able to lead and be a part of setting the example for the culture going forward."
"His strength of character and he's a fairly jovial player around the rooms, if the mood gets too serious, all you need to do is inject Heater into it and there's often a belly laugh to be had and I think that's pretty important, we want to enjoy what we do as well."
Shaw reiterated his coach's message.
"Obviously off the field there's been some issues and taking on this leadership role will help me develop as a person," Shaw said.
"But what happened last year, what happened in the past years is behind me."
"I've been to the dark side and back, I know what it's like on that side and hopefully the mistakes I've made can help the guys coming through sort of guide them in the right direction rather than the wrong direction."
"So I think getting voted in is a big honour for me after the year I had last year and I'm looking forward to that role, mentoring young guys, but also helping develop the old guys and improving them as well."