WHEN Rhyce Shaw decided to start his football career anew in Sydney, neither he nor his new club could possibly have known what was to come.

The Swans hoped they had drafted a ready-made player who could add pace through the middle of the ground; Shaw hoped he had found a club where he could make the most of his footballing talent after eight unfulfilling seasons at Collingwood.

That Shaw finished the season with 22 excellent games under his belt, a top-two finish in the Bob Skilton Medal and the respect of his teammates was beyond his expectations.

“I was just rapt to come to the club in the first place and play footy,” he said.

“To get the opportunity to play for the Sydney Swans has been amazing but to finish second to Ryan O’Keefe [in the club champion award]… I don’t know what to say. It’s just really humbling.”

The 27-year-old thrived in an attacking role off half-back in 2009, racking up a career-high 532 possessions to lead the Swans in total kicks and disposals.

Shaw’s commitment to his new club’s ethos and his tireless work ethic also saw him elevated to the Swans’ leadership group in 2010.

The former Magpie flanker said he was simply grateful for the chance to prove his worth as a senior player.

“It’s massive for me to come here and prove not only to everyone else but to myself that I can play AFL footy,” Shaw said.

“That was really important. For the confidence that the coaching staff and the players have given me, I can’t speak more highly of the footy club.

“It’s been a fantastic ride and hopefully we can continue the form that we showed in the last month or so of the season.”

He admitted to some surprise at his election to the leadership group after just 12 months at the club, attributing it to his honesty and passion for success. 

“The boys voted me and my great mate Darren Jolly in and it was surprising for me – [but] it wasn’t so surprising for Jolls, because he’s been fantastic,” Shaw said.

“I just tried to come up here, be myself and the boys liked it. I just want to win – I think the boys see that and that’s probably one of the main things that they’ve seen. They know that I’m driven.”

With several of the Swans’ 2005 premiership heroes no longer at the club, Shaw said it was an exciting time for the next generation of players to create their history.

But that excitement was mixed with some trepidation, Shaw said, as his place among the club’s experienced senior players became clear.

“I think I’m the sixth oldest at the club now and that’s real depressing,” he said with a laugh.

“I’m just really excited about the group that’s coming through. I live with a couple of them and they’re really exciting players – Craig Bird, Brett Meredith, Jesse White and Nick Smith.

“This group has really learned from the experience they’ve had this year; hopefully we can continue that next year and that will push us into the top eight.”