THE Blues have today finalised their playing list for 2018, welcoming two new additions via the 2017 NAB AFL Pre-Season and Rookie Drafts.

Former Port Adelaide defender Cameron O’Shea and ex-Gold Coast Suns wingman Matt Shaw will continue their AFL careers with the Blues, having been officially placed on the Club’s senior and rookie lists respectively. 

No stranger to the navy blue, O’Shea has been a member of the Northern Blues’ playing group under the tutelage of senior coach Josh Fraser for the past year.

The 25-year-old was recruited from the Eastern Ranges, before being drafted to Port Adelaide in the 2010 NAB AFL National Draft with the Power’s third-round selection. The experienced defender went on to play 81 senior games across six seasons. O’Shea also entered the Northern Blues’ history books with a record-breaking best-and-fairest win in October to claim the Laurie Hill Trophy. 

Originally a foundation player for the Gold Coast Suns, Matt Shaw arrives at Ikon Park after 102 senior AFL games. Arriving on the Gold Coast as a 17-year-old access selection in the 2010 National Draft, the Patterson Lakes product is a hard running midfielder who shows attacking flair predominately across the wing. 

GM List Management and Strategy, Stephen Silvagni said the additions of O’Shea and Shaw to the Blues’ list rounded out a strong off-season of drafted talent for the football club. 

“We’re pleased to welcome Cam and Matt to our list officially. We know both players are really keen to continue their careers at a senior level, so there is no doubt they will be making the most of the opportunity in front of them. Importantly, they will bring maturity and experience to a relatively young list,” Silvagni said. 

“Cam was really disciplined in his approach to the VFL team this year and has committed himself fully since having the opportunity to train with the senior side throughout the off-season. The recruitment of Cam is a fine example of the strong pathway and alignment between the Northern Blues and the Club’s senior side.

“In the same vein, we know Matt will be very determined to make an impact amongst a young playing group. He brings senior football experience to our young list and will be an important, additional depth player for us.

“Overall, we feel we have some exciting young talent through the door. We said we would go to three drafts to bring in young talent, and for us now as a playing group, we want to start a period of stabilisation across our list. We have a young group who now need to build chemistry and synergy amongst themselves as a list.”

The Blues have welcomed 12 new players since the end of the 2017 season, including O’Shea, Shaw, Matthew Kennedy, Darcy Lang, Matthew Lobbe, Aaron Mullett, Cillian McDaid as well as new draftees Paddy Dow, Lochie O’Brien, Tom De Koning, Angus Schumacher and Jarrod Garlett.