The defender, who will return to the field in tonight’s clash with Essendon at the SCG after battling an ankle syndesmosis injury for five weeks, took full advantage of his recovery, and used the time to rest and recharge for the business end of the season.
Speaking to sydneyswans.com.au, the 32-year-old said he approached his last month on the sidelines like a “mini pre-season” ahead of the Swans’ September tilt.
“In some ways it can help a finals campaign if you do have a bit of a freshen up,” Shaw said.
“No one wants to miss games, but at my age it’s getting a bit tough, so it was good to have four weeks off to freshen up and get my body right.
“It is a like a mini pre-season and you get stuck into your rehab and you get everything right, and you try and get yourself as fit as you can to get back into footy.
“You also just get your fitness up, and with our facilities now with the altitude room, it’s really good and really handy to be able to do that without being actually on your legs.
“It’s worked out really well and I’m feeling good.”
While Shaw found the positives in his injury setback, the premiership defender said his ankle’s slow healing process was frustrating, with his initial diagnosis of a two-to-three-week injury stretching out to five weeks.
But with team mate Dan Hannebery, who injured his ankle the week before Shaw, still on the sidelines, he said he was grateful to be ready to make his return this Friday night.
“It was really tough,” Shaw said.
“I missed a fair bit of footy last year and I was really looking forward to having an injury-free season, but it doesn’t work out that way and footy’s footy.
“It was just a case of whenever it gets better, it gets better, and you take it one day at a time and I’ve done that, and I’ve been lucky enough to come up pretty quick.
“I feel really good going into Friday night.”
While Shaw will slot back into the Swans’ back six in tonight’s match, there have been some changes at that end of the field since the last time the defender played this season.
In particular, Shaw’s good mate Gary Rohan has dropped back into defence, and has shown promise in his new role.
Shaw said he was looking forward to playing alongside Rohan this week, and was really proud of what his young team mate had achieved in recent weeks.
“It’s good to see Gazza playing,” he said.
“He’s just got to keep continuing to be consistent and do the things we ask him to do.
“It’s as simple as that for Gazza.
“We’ve all seen him do amazing things on the footy field, but that stuff comes naturally to him.
“Now he’s got to make sure he’s consistent and be defensive as much as he can and all the other stuff will come.”
Shaw’s return match will not come easy, with the Swans set to battle an in-form Bombers side coming in off the back of three-straight victories.
Shaw said a fast start would be important in tonight’s match.
“They are a dangerous side,” he said.
“They play really fast footy at times, but then they can slow it down and really cut up opposition teams.
“We need to make sure that we’re aware of that.
“I think last time we jumped them in the first quarter and set the game up from there, so I’m looking forward to a fantastic contest in front of a packed crowd at the SCG.”
