GIANTS defender Heath Shaw has issued the following statement in relation to a comment made during Saturday's match against the Sydney Swans.

"I want to apologise for the insensitive comment I made to Tom Papley during last night's game," Shaw said. 

"Yes I am a fiery person who plays with a lot of passion and emotion but that is no excuse for my actions last night.

"I apologise to Tom and anyone else who took offence to my comments, I deeply regret them.

"There is no place for comments of that nature on or off the football ground. It was an offensive remark that I should never have made and for that I apologise."