Shaw spent the majority of the game close to goal and provided plenty of headaches for the Blues’ defence.
Filling in for Daniel Bradshaw, who remains on the sidelines with a hamstring injury, he finished with seven marks, 14 possessions and three goals.
“I just tried to lead from as deep as I could and get shots on goal,” Shaw said. “It worked well.
“I think I’ve played 120-odd games and they’ve all either been in defence or in the midfield.
“It’s a bit of a change and a change is as good as a holiday, they say.”
Shaw was spurred on by the feats of his brother Heath, who booted two goals in Collingwood’s big win over St Kilda at the MCG a day earlier.
“He let me know about it too,” Shaw joked.
“I was on the flight down here, so I didn’t get to see too much of the game.
“Mum rang and said Heath had kicked two, so I thought, ‘I can’t let him do that. I’ll have to kick a few more’.”
Swans coach Paul Roos was inspired to start Shaw up forward against the Blues after the defender booted two late goals in the Swans’ round-15 win over North Melbourne at the SCG.
“He’s been terrific for us down back for most of the year and he probably went through a little bit of a down period, so he went forward last week,” Roos said.
“Watching him train there during the week as a forward, he’s got some natural forward instincts and we saw that again today.
“He played a super game today. He didn’t necessarily put his hand up to play there, but I think he really enjoyed being out there and contributing like he did.”
For Shaw, playing in attack brought back memories of his early days in the game.
“I played all my career in the juniors in the forward line,” he said. “Even in the under-18s I played forward pocket at the Northern Knights.
“Ever since I went to Collingwood I’ve been a defender or midfielder and when I came up here it was the same thing.
“You’ve just got to play your role in the team and hope it works out.”
