HEATH Shaw's 250th game against the Brisbane Lions on Saturday will bring his family one step closer to one of the game's most remarkable records.
The Greater Western Sydney star's milestone keeps the Shaw clan on track to be the first footy family to break the 1000-game mark during this year's finals series, a measure of significance that’s unlikely to be broken.
Heath's uncle Tony, Collingwood's 1990 premiership captain and Norm Smith medallist, leads the tally with 313 games.
Brother Rhyce is next with 237 appearances for the Magpies and Sydney, followed by father Ray, who played 146 times in the black and white, while the boys' uncle Neville rounds out the group with 43 games for the Pies in the 1980's.
Match preview: Brisbane Lions v Greater Western Sydney
It leaves the VFL/AFL's most prolific family on 988 games heading into this weekend, with the magical four figures set to be reached in the Giants' second final this year, should Shaw and his team maintain form and consistency.
The former Collingwood rat-packer isn't often one to give serious answers - they're like handballs for the veteran, very rare – but while he wasn't keen to dwell on his personal milestone, he told AFL.com.au the history that comes with his surname means plenty.
"For one family to play that many games, and have that kind of success is pretty special," he said.
"We're all competitive beasts and hate losing, and I think that’s part of the reason we've succeeded at the highest level because we've wanted to get the best out of ourselves and our teammates."
Leaving the competition's highest profile club for GWS, who were the AFL's whipping boys in just their third season in rugby league-dominated Western Sydney, must have looked like a massive risk at the time, but Shaw believes it’s the best move he's ever made.
The defender has never been one to hide his feelings on the field, and while he admits he initially thought he'd have to keep the boisterous direction of his new and much less experienced teammates in check, coach Leon Cameron had other ideas.
"Leon told me he didn't want me to change, he wanted me to drive really high standards for this group; he understood I play with passion and I hate to lose, and I expect the most out of my teammates," he said.
"Back then the boys knew what it was like to play in the AFL and get touched up every weekend, but they didn't know the work you needed to do to have success.
"I've had my blow ups but the boys are used to it now, so they either just totally ignore me, or fire back at me.
"That means they're connected with me and they understand me, and that’s what I love about this group."
Since arriving at the Giants Shaw has won the 2015 best and fairest and been named All Australian twice, but these days his mentoring role gives him more satisfaction than individual awards and he's already working on his career exit plan.
Shaw said the Giants have two up and coming stars ready to take control of the backline he's marshaled for the past four seasons, and he'd like to taste more flag success and, who knows, maybe pass his uncle Tony's family record before he bows out.
Heath Shaw helps brother Rhyce celebrate the Swans' 2012 flag win. Picture: AFL Photos
"The thing I've most enjoyed about this year is seeing Zac Williams back up what he did last year, and Nathan Wilson go from being really angry about not being picked for round one, to bouncing back to have a great season," he said.
"Those two are tracking a year or two ahead of where I was at that age. Over the last 12 months they're getting more confident at knowing their game and directing those around them.
"Football is a selfish beast at times and you want to play well every week and get rewarded with individual accolades, but once you tick that box, the older you get the more you get out of seeing others do well.
"It might have taken me 230-odd games to get to that position but I've finally got there and I'm loving it.
"Hopefully they can push me out soon and I can go up the other end like Stevie (Johnson) and play another couple of years, that’s the dream."
