TonyK
CibbuanoShaw escapes suspension
August 4th 2008 04:39
COLLINGWOOD defender Heath Shaw will play in Saturday night's crucial clash against fellow top-eight contenders St Kilda at the MCG after the club opted not to suspend him for being charged with drink driving.
Shaw was charged after making contact with a stationary vehicle in the Melbourne suburb of Kew on Sunday night.
Collingwood president Eddie McGuire said Shaw would be fined $10,000.
"The easiest thing in the world for our club [to do] is to send him down to play in the VFL reserves and he gets off the hook," he said.
"What we want him to do now is start his rehabilitation.
"People can say it is just being selfish because we are playing, we are about to play in a finals game, and it's a big game against St Kilda.
"Well, our supporters deserve these professional people to do their job properly."
McGuire also said Shaw's behaviour would not be tolerated at the club.
"The Collingwood Football club is not only embarrassed by the situation, we are absolutely furious," he said.
"There is no excuse, we're sick and tired of of this sort of behaviour from players.
"[Coach] Mick Malthouse gets belted week in, week out as the coach, and it's time that these guys grew up, and took responsibility for their actions."
Shaw said he had been drinking with his brother Rhyce and Alan Didak at a Kew hotel, but said while Didak was briefly at the scene to offer support, he was not in the car at the time of the crash.
The 22-year-old also admitted that he had let a lot of people down.
"I've let a lot of people down, and not only myself, the club and all the supporters," he said.
"It's sort of something that you don't want to wish upon anyone. And [to] find myself this situation is pretty embarassing."
Collingwood captain Scott Burns said the leadership group wanted Shaw to feel the full force of the media spotlight this week.
"We're not happy at all with Heater (Shaw)," said a clearly angry Burns.
"We want to make sure he's put up here, we're going to put him up Wednesday and the normal mid-week one (media conference), and he's definitely going to play on Saturday night.
"We want him to be in the papers the next two or three days, on talkback radio.
"He's going to be under the pump and he's got to respond. He's let us down. I'm not happy at all."
Shaw was charged after making contact with a stationary vehicle in the Melbourne suburb of Kew on Sunday night.
Collingwood president Eddie McGuire said Shaw would be fined $10,000.
"The easiest thing in the world for our club [to do] is to send him down to play in the VFL reserves and he gets off the hook," he said.
"What we want him to do now is start his rehabilitation.
"People can say it is just being selfish because we are playing, we are about to play in a finals game, and it's a big game against St Kilda.
"Well, our supporters deserve these professional people to do their job properly."
McGuire also said Shaw's behaviour would not be tolerated at the club.
"The Collingwood Football club is not only embarrassed by the situation, we are absolutely furious," he said.
"There is no excuse, we're sick and tired of of this sort of behaviour from players.
"[Coach] Mick Malthouse gets belted week in, week out as the coach, and it's time that these guys grew up, and took responsibility for their actions."
Shaw said he had been drinking with his brother Rhyce and Alan Didak at a Kew hotel, but said while Didak was briefly at the scene to offer support, he was not in the car at the time of the crash.
The 22-year-old also admitted that he had let a lot of people down.
"I've let a lot of people down, and not only myself, the club and all the supporters," he said.
"It's sort of something that you don't want to wish upon anyone. And [to] find myself this situation is pretty embarassing."
Collingwood captain Scott Burns said the leadership group wanted Shaw to feel the full force of the media spotlight this week.
"We're not happy at all with Heater (Shaw)," said a clearly angry Burns.
"We want to make sure he's put up here, we're going to put him up Wednesday and the normal mid-week one (media conference), and he's definitely going to play on Saturday night.
"We want him to be in the papers the next two or three days, on talkback radio.
"He's going to be under the pump and he's got to respond. He's let us down. I'm not happy at all."
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