The 10 greatest football families in VFL/AFL history

Standing alongside the Abletts as the only family on the list to crack the 1000 game threshold, the Shaws' consistency and longevity at the highest level cannot be questioned.

Heath Shaw leads the family on 325 career games and is best known for his heroics in Collingwood's 2010 premiership success. In the season-deciding game, the dashing defender made one of the all-time plays, stopping a surefire goal off the boot of Nick Riewoldt, an act that is widely recognised as the 'greatest smother of all time'. Alongside this premiership, Heath has two All-Australian honours, one best and fairest and one Anzac Day Medal on his CV. He also finished third in the Rising Star voting in 2006 and is a member of the GWS Giants' inaugural finals and Grand Final teams (2016 & 2019).

Heath's uncle Tony is likewise a big game operator, captaining Collingwood to their 15th premiership in 1990. This season in particular stands out as one of the greatest from any individual player, as Tony earned himself VFL/AFL team of the year selection, best and fairest honours and a Norm Smith Medal to go alongside his premiership medallion. The undersized mid is considered one of Collingwood's greatest ever players, playing 17 seasons and featuring 313 games in the black and white (third most in club history). Tony overall has one premiership, two team of the year's, two best and fairests, one Norm Smith Medal, one AFLPA best captain award and is in Collingwood's team of the century and hall of fame.

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Unlike his brother and uncle, Rhyce Shaw had achieved his premiership dream in the red and white of Sydney in 2012. The defender played 237 career games across both Collingwood and Sydney and was a solid contributor in both backlines, averaging 17.8 disposals, 4.3 marks and 2.1 tackles in his 16-year career. His best season came in 2009, when he averaged 24 touches and came second in the Swans' best and fairest award. Rhyce matched this impressive second-place finish in the Bob Skilton Medal two years later, losing out to the legendary Adam Goodes in a tightly contested count. Off-field, Rhyce Shaw is notably the first coach to have held the senior coaching position for both an AFL and AFLW program.

The oldest footballing Shaw, Ray, is brother to Tony and father to Heath and Rhyce. Despite playing fewer games than most of his footballing family, Ray paved the way for the rest of his family, debuting for Collingwood in 1974. Standing at 175cm, the 'pocket rocket is the only member of the Shaws to play a role forward of centre and had only once in his eight-year career dipped below one goal per game in a season. His best seasons came in 1978 and 1980 where he managed to kick 49 and 45 goals respectively whilst also maintaining an impressive 21 disposals on average. Ray ended up kicking 200 goals in 146 career games, was the Magpies' best and fairest winner in 1978 and was captain of the club in back-to-back Grand Final campaigns (1979-1980).

With only 43 games to his name, Neville Shaw is unfortunate not to have played more AFL/VFL football. His career was riddled and eventually ruined by injuries, with car accidents, dislocations and torn ligaments all featuring in an unlucky three-year span. Throughout this time, he kicked 28 goals, averaged 15 disposals and played in Collingwood's 1984 preliminary final run. Despite the injury troubles, Neville's elite footballing ability remained intact post his VFL career, as the midfielder won back-to-back best and fairest awards for West Adelaide in the SANFL.

The Shaw family have an impressive 1064 games, 471 goals, three premierships, four All-Australians, four best and fairests and nine years of captaincy between them.