SHIEL
CAREER
Games – 135 at GWS
Goals – 64
All Australian – 2017
2018 AVERAGES (23 games)
Disposals – 25.9
Clearances – 4.5
Contested possessions – 9.3
Inside 50s – 4.7
Goal assists – 1.1
BIO
Height – 182cm
Weight – 82kg
Debut – 2012
Draft – Pre-selected as a 17-year-old and moved to Sydney in 2011 after spending juniors at Edithvale/Aspendale and playing with Caulfield Grammar and Dandenong Stingrays.
Shiel was an extremely highly-rated inaugural player at GWS after being swept up as a 17-year-old in 2011.
He started his first season with the Giants impressive, but injury kept him to just 12 games as the club slowly found its feet.
Since then, Shiel has barely missed a beat. Aside from an injury-interrupted season in 2015 where the exciting midfielder played just 14 games, he has proven to be a remarkably reliable on-baller.
A brilliant season in 2016 catapulted Shiel into the top echelon of the league’s midfielders, and an even better year in 2017 solidified that position.
The 25-year-old averaged more than 26 disposals, four inside 50s, six clearances and 11 contested possessions last year to claim his first All-Australian selection.
Another impressive season this year has seen the Victorian receive plenty of interest from a number of clubs, with Carlton, Hawthorn and St Kilda joining Essendon at the front of the race.
And after much speculation, the decision was made to nominate The Hangar as his preferred destination, much to the excitement of Essendon fans.
The Bombers’ fast and explosive attacking game style appears to suit the former Giant down to a tee, with Shiel’s speed and power proving to be some of his best weapons.
Tough on the inside and classy on the outside, Shiel remains one of the league’s best players and will add plenty to what is already an extremely promising side.
