10 March 2026

Former Collingwood Football Club player Neville Shaw is recovering after a life-threatening strep infection sent him into septic shock and multiple organ failure.

The 61-year-old, from one of Victoria’s most recognised football families, presented to Austin Health’s Emergency Department on 10 February with what began as an infection in his elbow.

Within days, the aggressive bacterial infection had spread through his bloodstream and into both knees.

Neville deteriorated rapidly and was admitted to intensive care on 12 February with severe sepsis and septic shock. He required emergency surgery to wash out both knees and was placed on artificial life support as multiple specialist teams worked to save his life.

ICU specialist Dr Rahul Costa-Pinto, who first treated Neville, said it was one of the worst joint infections he had ever seen.

“This was one of the most severe joint infections I have encountered. Neville was critically unwell and very fortunate to survive,” Dr Costa-Pinto said.

Over 10 days in ICU, teams from intensive care, orthopaedics, infectious diseases, cardiology and rheumatology worked together to treat the infection and support his failing organs.

Without rapid, coordinated specialist care, the infection would almost certainly have overwhelmed him.

Neville responded to treatment and was able to leave ICU on 21 February. He is now continuing his recovery on the ward.

He and his partner Jenny say they are deeply grateful to the Austin team for saving his life.

Austin Health is recognised as a national leader in detecting and treating severe sepsis, with survival outcomes benchmarked nationally and regarded as world-class.

The hospital’s early detection and rapid response work, led by clinician Professor Daryl Jones, has been recognised by Safer Care Victoria and leading hospitals internationally.

Clinicians say Neville’s recovery is a remarkable story of survival and a testament to the power of early detection and specialist team-based care.