In the past few years, Heath Shaw has learned not to pay attention to opinions voiced outside the walls of Collingwood.

Throughout his eight-year career, he's made mistakes away from field - and he knows it. 

When he was appointed to the leadership group in early February, it was indiscretions such as last year's eight-match gambling ban and 2008's alcohol-fuelled car incident with Alan Didak that saw some raise their eyebrows.

Read how surgery helped Shaw overcame a hip injury.

At the time, Shaw said he hoped the lessons learned from past transgressions would help him guide the club's younger players, and not to "the dark side" he had seen too many times.

Now, the 26-year-old has had more than a month to consider what outsiders might think of his appointment - and, despite some voiced scepticism - his focus hasn't changed. 

"People might raise their eyebrows about my past history but you can't change the past. You can only influence the future," Shaw told collingwoodfc.com.au.

"To be honest, what people outside of the club say, I don't pay a hell of a lot of attention to.

"They weren't the people voting on the group, and they weren't the people voting on the leaders.

"The people who are most important are those internally, and the players, and they nominate the people they think are best suited to lead the club going forward."

Meanwhile, Shaw admitted the loss of Leon Davis - who was reinvented as a running half-back last year before walking from the Magpies after 12 seasons - had been "huge" for the team.

See Shaw explain his promotion to the leadership group on CTV.

But, he believes returned Irishman Martin Clarke, new recruit Peter Yagmoor and versatile backman Tyson Goldsack - who returns from a knee injury against St Kilda on Friday night - have the ability to fill the void.

"Leon set a massive standard for the attacking half-back flanker," Shaw said.

"[But] there's a spot there that can be taken by anyone if you want to just put your hand up and take it … it's time for one of those guys to put their hand up and take that opportunity."

Coach Nathan Buckley said after the Magpies' loss to Melbourne in week two of the NAB Cup that Clarke faced the challenge of adapting to pressure across half-back, which had increased across the two seasons he was away from the game.

Clarke also played on the wing in that match, where he looked more comfortable.

Shaw said the Irishman had the skills to adapt to both roles and improve the depth of the team with his super running ability.

"Marty has come back from the wilderness from a little bit and the game changes every year, and it has changed a lot since Marty last played," he said.

"I think these days you've got to be flexible where you can play, and you've got to be able to play multiple positions.

"Marty is elite in his endurance, and these days, with the sub rule, you need fairly good endurance athletes.

"He'll squeeze in there very nicely and him being one of the best runners at the club is going to help us."

Jennifer Witham is a reporter for AFL Media. Follow her on Twitter @AFL_JenWitham