Tagging roles in the midfield, a customary role in defence and a three-goal cameo as a marking forward against Carlton have all been features of his 2010 campaign.
But Shaw, who by his own admission has struggled to repeat his sensational 2009 form, said his ability to adapt has been crucial to his continued presence in the side.
The former Magpie enjoyed a stellar debut season with the Swans, finishing second in the Bob Skilton Medal as he cemented his role as a running half-back.
A bout of knee tendonitis cruelled his preparation for 2010 and although he played the final two practice games, Shaw entered the season underdone.
That, combined with Nick Malceski's dramatic form revival and Tadhg Kennelly's return from Ireland meant spots on the half-back line became limited.
He said his fortunes had mirrored those of the team as he battled for form and fitness.
"I've had some really good patches and I've had some terrible football where I couldn't get a kick. Last year was a good year but sometimes you've just got to ride the bad times a bit," he said.
"Last year my role was to run the ball out of half back and provide that run but this year we've had Mal playing such good footy and Tadhg coming back and then you've got Marty (Mattner) and then there's me.
"We've had to change our roles a little bit and me having that previous experience in the midfield, I've been the one that's been squeezed out and had to play different roles, which I'm totally happy with.
"Over my career, I've learnt that if you're getting a game, it's a good thing, no matter where you are on the ground. My form has been up and down but I'm really trying to contribute in the best way I can at the moment."
Shaw missed the best part of three months with his knee problems in the pre-season but he said his mid-season form slump had nothing to do with his fitness.
"Going into round one, I'd only played the two practice games, which you'd think would be enough, but it probably wasn't. I didn't have the match fitness at all, but it hasn't really come down to that.
"I haven't played my best footy because I wasn't fit enough; it's just that I wasn't doing my role."
However, Shaw's form woes are a distant memory as the Swans hurtle towards September.
The 28-year-old hoped his experience in finals series with Collingwood would complement the wisdom gained by his fellow teammates from their successive grand finals in 2005-06.
"You see the guys like Jets and Hanners and Gary Rohan coming through and it's really exciting for us as a group, considering where we are at the moment. We're going into a finals series and hopefully in the next couple of years, we'll be doing the same thing," he said.
"The guys who have been here a while have had the same experiences I've had in playing in grand finals and finals series, so it holds us in pretty good stead with those young blokes coming through.
"It can only help those guys and hopefully they can take over and take the Swans to a new level."
The speed displayed by Jetta and Rohan has been a welcome addition to Shaw's run but he said the young guns had left him for dead in a foot race against the Western Bulldogs in round 21.
"Gary came out of the half-back line and Jets was on his right-hand side and I was on his left. We ran about 60 metres and I was the first one to pull up because I was gone," he said with a laugh.
"Those two are lightning and it's going to be really interesting to see those guys progress. They're super talents and super fast as well. Good luck to whoever plays on them."
