Premiership duo join the GIANTS

Collingwood premiership star Heath Shaw officially became a GIANT on Thursday morning when paperwork was lodged with the AFL for a trade deal finalised between the two clubs late on Wednesday.

Shaw will be a GIANT for the next five years in exchange for young midfielder Taylor Adams.

Shaw, 27, played 173 games for the Magpies after making his debut in 2005. He was a member of Collingwood’s 2010 premiership side and one of its best players in that year’s Grand Final and Grand Final Replay.

He joins Swans premiership ruckman Shane Mumford at the GIANTS for 2014. His brother Rhyce Shaw plays for Swans after joining the club from Collingwood at the end of 2008.

They are the sons of former Collingwood captain Ray Shaw and nephews of former Collingwood premiership captain and 1990 Norm Smith Medallist Tony Shaw. 

General Manager Football Graeme Allan said Shaw would be a great addition to the GIANTS list.

“To bring a player of Heath Shaw’s class and experience to the GIANTS is fantastic and will hugely benefit the club,” Allan said.

“We see Heath as having plenty of good football ahead of him and he’ll be able to provide leadership and support for our exciting young group and they will benefit enormously from his presence.

“He has been a great Collingwood favourite for a number of years and we think somebody of his undoubted quality will be a tremendous asset for the club.

“We’ve now secured two premiership players, with almost 300 games experience during the trade period, while also holding the top two picks in next month’s NAB AFL Draft, leaving the GIANTS in a very healthy position ahead of the 2014 season.”

Dual Geelong premiership defender Josh Hunt has also agreed to join the Greater Western Sydney GIANTS as a free agent.

Hunt will join the GIANTS after 198 games for Geelong where he was a member of their 2007 and 2011 premierships. He will join the GIANTS on a one year deal.

Hunt is an unrestricted free agent and free to join the club of his choice. This will be finalised when the delisted free agent period starts on November 1.

The 31 year-old stands at 185 centremetres and weighs 101 kilograms and is renowned for his booming left foot kick. He was part of one of the greatest backlines of the modern era at Geelong.

Hunt joins Collingwood’s Heath Shaw and the Swans Shane Mumford as the latest premiership player to agree to join the GIANTS.

Mumford and Hunt were teammates at Geelong in 2008-9 and bring nearly 300 games of AFL experience and three premierships to the GIANTS.

General Manager of Football Graeme Allan said Hunt was another important addition to the GIANTS list.

“Josh will add valuable experience to the GIANTS. He comes from a very successful club in Geelong and will be of great benefit to our young playing list,” Allan said.