Amidst some serious analysis about what is expected to be a huge season for the premiership favourites, the 31-year-old isn't afraid to have some fun.

Shaw has gained a new lease on his football career since moving to the Giants, claiming back-to-back All Australian honours in the past two seasons - but he jokes he was "a bit stiff" to miss out on selection when he was at Collingwood.

But at the end of the day, Shaw says "there is another little prize" that he's aiming for - the Brownlow Medal.

"Nah, not the Brownlow," Shaw laughs after a few seconds of silence.

"I'll have the Brownlow as well, but the premiership is obviously more important. I've obviously won one before but that's going on seven years now.

"It's been a long time since I've had that feeling and to be honest you hate to see other teams winning it because you do get jealous.

"To come so close last year, we're locked and loaded. We know what it took to get to the prelim last year and we've got to improve to go one step further."

Shaw brings a wealth of experience to what has traditionally been a young Giants squad, but he sees himself as "fairly immature" - he laughs that makes him fit right in.

He turned up to a press conference wearing former Giants runner and Australian opening batsman Simon Katich's cricket helmet after copping a serious head knock in 2014.

As recent as last month Shaw had had enough of training and posted an advertisement offering $100 for "somebody of reasonable physical condition to replace me at the GWS Giants for a full training day".

When the 2010 premiership winner arrived in Sydney three years ago he moved in with a pair of 20-year-old's in Jonathon Patton and Stephen Cognilio.

There was "a bit of an age gap" but Shaw fits in quite well with the younger crowd.

"I'm obviously getting towards the back end of my career and we've drafted 17, 18-year-olds, and I'm going into my 13th or 14th season," Shaw said.

"If I hang on for a bit longer maybe I would have played a game of AFL before some of the guys I'm playing with [were born].

"We'll see how it goes but to be honest having these guys coming through and performing, age doesn't really make a difference."

While the core of the group are still in their mid-to-early 20's, Shaw is one of many experienced players that have fast tracked the Giants' speedy rise to premiership favouritism in recent years.

This season the likes of Brett Deledio, Tendai Mzungu, and Matt de Boer have followed veterans Shaw Steve Johnson to western Sydney.

"For me that move was a tough one but I think I've played my best footy up here and hopefully I can continue on that form," Shaw said.

A grand final appearance is considered a pass mark for the Giants, which Shaw says is "an interesting situation" given the club has one finals win to its name.

But they know what it takes to get to a preliminary final - now it's time to see what they've learned.