THIS time last year, Rhyce Shaw was facing his footballing mortality head-on as he came to terms with the fact he needed another knee reconstruction.

 

Twelve months later and the Swans defender is in a totally different frame of mind, even talking up his chances of extending his career for some time yet.

 

Shaw ruptured the ACL in his right knee in last year's round 22 clash with Geelong, ruling the then-31-year-old out of the finals series and putting his playing future in considerable doubt.

 

But a successful LARS procedure had him back in the team for round one this year and he is now preparing for a third Grand Final in his 14th AFL season.

 

"To be honest, I didn't think I'd be here after last year," Shaw told AFL.com.au.

 

"When you're that age, you think 'Is it all over? Have I done the knee really badly'.

 

"But I was lucky enough that it was pretty clean and the rehab was fantastic and I got back and played some alright footy.

 

"The footy club has had a really good run this year, we've worked really hard and we're back in the 'big dance'.

 

"I'm just glad to be in the side."

 

Once players get on the wrong side of 30, they often notice their skills diminishing quickly.

 

But for Shaw, whose game is built around using his pace to drive the Swans out of defence, he has still clung on to his principle asset.

 

"I'm pretty lucky like that, I think that's the only thing that's really hung around, my pace," he said.

 

"I've been lucky enough to have a really good run and playing in another Grand Final means a heap to me.

 

"After 2012, it was a really good experience and I really wanted to get that experience back again.

 

"We missed out last year, but to be back again is fantastic."

 

So, considering how his body is holding up, does that mean Shaw will be going around again in 2015?

 

"I keep saying if I feel like this next year, I could play another year (in 2016)," he said.

 

"But mate I'm honestly just thinking about getting through Saturday and then we'll talk about it."

 

While he is uncertain about his playing future, Shaw is well aware of the opportunity that lies before him at the MCG.

 

He was just 21 when he played his first Grand Final, part of the Collingwood outfit that lost to the Brisbane Lions in the 2003 decider.

 

He then had to wait nine long years to get back to the game's biggest stage, winning a flag with that victory over the Hawks two years ago.

 

But the hunger is still there.

 

"When I lost my first one, all you wanted to do was get back there again," he said.

 

"Once you've won one, that feeling just never goes away and you want to get it again.

 

"Last year was disappointing, but this year we're back here and we want to make the most of it."