Is Heath Shaw the AFL's very own version of James O'Connor?
This may sound a silly question but hear me out. Sure – or actually Shaw – Heath isn't an obnoxious pretty boy with an inflated opinion of his own abilities. No one's ever busted Shaw out at Hungry Jacks at 4am nor has he ever said wanky comments along the lines of, 'I believe this move is the best thing for my brand'.
But when it comes to talking the talk and saying you've put past mistakes behind you – only to then screw up once again – then there is some common ground between Shaw and the one-time Wallabies pin-up boy.
Unlike O'Connor, Shaw's actually experienced some success out on the footy field. His incredible smother on St Kilda's Nick Riewoldt during the 2010 Grand Final replay is one of the modern game's more iconic moments and it set up a Magpies flag.
In eight seasons at Collingwood Shaw has been nothing but dependable out on the park as he formed a key plank in the Magpies defence. The latter seasons, and particularly 2013, have sometimes seen his frustrations get the better of him. But for the most part, out on the field, Shaw's been part of a well-functioning defensive unit, albeit one that was often assisted by pressure further up the field.
It's off the field where comparisons with O'Connor become a little more valid.
Like O'Connor, Shaw has often been identified as part of a brat pack alongside the likes of fellow Pies Alan Didak, Dane Swan and Ben Johnson. Shaw has made no secret of this fact even taking part in a joke skit for Channel 10's Before The Game just a few weeks ago where he laughed about knocking back Dayne Beams for membership in this group.
Shaw, though, has had other issues. He and Didak were of course involved in that famous car accident in Hawthorn during 2008, the pair having just left a Sunday session.
They weren't penalised for that incident specifically by the club, but when it came to lying about Didak's involvement in it, Collingwood acted swiftly to internally suspend the pair for the rest of the 2008 season.
It looked like Shaw learnt his lessons and done his penance as Collingwood emerged as a real premiership contender in 2009 and went on to win the flag the following season.
But once again issues arose, this time when he was found to have asked a friend to put a $10 bet on during the 2011 season. Sure, Heater should almost be applauded for getting a tenner on Nick Maxwell to score the first goal against Adelaide at $101 but when you're doing that in light of the AFL's strict anti-gambling regulations – with the benefit of inside information – then that's just a bit silly.
As a result of an eight-match AFL ban, Shaw lost his place in Collingwood's leadership group but come the start of 2012 – under new coach Nathan Buckley – Shaw was back, having been voted into group by his peers.
At the time, Shaw maintained he'd turned over a new leaf.
"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."
Given another chance at leadership, you'd expect Shaw to be doing things pretty much by the book.
Instead just on three months later, Shaw comes on SEN Radio and says he'd be happy to lie to the club one again – as he had for Didak – if it meant protecting a mate. Sure, it's an admirable concept but you hardly imagine the club would have been too thrilled, especially after Buckley had called the lie 'unforgivable' at the time.
"To be honest, I reckon I would probably do the same thing if I had my time over again," Shaw said on May 5 last year.
"Because I think footy clubs and friendships are built around trust and you know you'd do anything for your mates and Dids is my best mate and I'd do anything for him.
"I think anyone outside of footy, if they were in that same position just in everyday life, I think they'd do the same thing so, yeah I wouldn't change it."
While Shaw's done nothing wrong off the field lately, 2013 has seen him become increasingly frustrated with his role at the Pies. As Collingwood's pressure up the field has dwindled, their defence has become a little more exposed and as a result Shaw's sometimes had to cover for an ageing Nick Maxwell.
Opposition clubs have also made him more accountable, dragging him back to the goal square and not allowing him to do what he does best and rebound from defence. Instead that role's gone to Harry O'Brien and all Collingwood supporters know how well that's turned out even if Harry was fifth in the B'n'F this year.
The end result has been Shaw becoming increasingly frustrated and it was probably only a matter of time when he snapped.
That explosion came at precisely the wrong moment, just a minute into the second term of Collingwood's Elimination Final loss to Port Adelaide. Just moments after Port kicked the quarter's first goal, Shaw jumper punches serial pest Angus Monfries right in front of the ump and gives the Power a free goal.
When subsequently approached by the Collingwood runner – presumably to be taken off the ground – he told the runner where to go before eventually coming to the bench and giving everyone else a spray around him.
Following the match when asked if Shaw's explosion had affected the rest of the side, Buckley said just one word: "Potentially." And, with that Shaw's fate was virtually sealed.
Shaw looks like heading to the Giants now even if the actual deal still needs the finishing touches.
According to his manager Ben Niall, Shaw is 'passionate' about mentoring youngsters and that's part of the Giants appeal. Goodness knows plenty of mentoring needs to be done after the Giants horror year.
To be fair to Shaw, we don't know just how much work he did with Collingwood's youngsters. Plenty of young Pies have come through the ranks in the last few years and Shaw could very easily have played a big role in that.
But the Giants will be seriously banking on Shaw to be a key contributor to this if they're to emerge as a serious force in the AFL landscape.
It won't be easy for him, though. Shaw has publically said he suffers from Attention Deficit Disorder and becoming frustrated has often been linked to this condition. Shaw should really be applauded for defying these issues and being as successful as he has been. It truly is a remarkable story.
But now the Giants need him to be a leader. They need to know Heath Shaw can put aside these frustrations for the greater good. They need him to heed the lessons of the past.
But given his past record, this could very easily be Shaw's greatest challenge.