Heath Shaw hopes his visits “to the dark side and back” will help him light the way for Collingwood’s younger players as one of the AFL club’s leaders.

Shaw on Friday was a surprise inclusion in the Magpies’ seven-man leadership group for 2012 – voted in by team-mates who have clearly forgiven his part in a betting scandal last year.

The 26-year-old was banned for eight matches and fined $20,000 after admitting he placed a bet on a Collingwood match last season.

But seven months after that incident, team-mates have ended his penance and new coach Nathan Buckley has endorsed Shaw’s elevation to the player leadership team under Magpies captain Nick Maxwell.

One of the game’s best rebounding defenders and a passionate on-field presence, Shaw has struck serious off-field trouble twice in the past four seasons.

He was also caught lying to the club hierarchy about a drink-driving incident in 2008, and was suspended and fined as a result.

But Shaw promised he had learned from his mistakes, and hopes other Magpies can learn from his experiences as well.

“What happened in past years is behind me,” Shaw said on Friday.

“I’ve been to the dark side and back … so hopefully the mistakes I’ve made can help the guys coming through – guide them in the right direction.”

Shaw is a well-liked character at the club, and is respected for his football brain and for speaking his mind on team matters.

And he revealed first-year coach Buckley was the prime mover in getting him to nominate for the leadership group.

“I sat down with Bucks at the end of last season and you review your last year and set goals for the year coming, and he was pretty keen for me to put my hand up (for the leadership group) and see where I’m at.

“The boys voted me in and it’s a big honour. It’s a big responsibility as well.”

Buckley said Shaw could perhaps bring new perspective to a leadership group headed by Maxwell, who retains the captaincy, and vice-captain Scott Pendlebury.

“Heater’s made a few errors over the time – as everyone has,” Buckley said.

“Perhaps that puts him in an even better position to be able to lead and be part of setting the example for the culture going forward.”

Shaw is among three new faces in the leadership group along with midfielder Dale Thomas and forward Travis Cloke.

Harry O’Brien and Luke Ball are the other members.