Dylan Shiel Biography

Dylan Shiel has surgery on his foot that troubled him in 2023, but is not expected to be significantly restricted for Essendon's pre-season.

Essendon list boss Adrian Dodoro has confirmed the Bombers will not look to trade Dylan Shiel.

"He's very much a highly regarded member of our playing group. He'll be at the Essendon Football Club next year," Dodoro said.

"He's frustrated with his knee, but he'll be up and running in the next four weeks. He's fine, and looking forward to a big year next year."

Dylan Shiel will serve a two-match ban for his bump on North Melbourne's Curtis Taylor after failing to mitigate his suspension at the AFL Tribunal.

The incident resulted in Taylor leaving the field for a concussion test and undergoing a scan for a potential jaw fracture.

Dylan Shiel admits it was tough watching his former Giants teammates make a Grand Final in 2019.

"It was after watching the preliminary final that I had the realisation of how much it would mean to me just to have an opportunity to experience that week," Shiel said.

"Of course, if you're going to make it you're going to want to win it, but the feeling of 'Wow, guys I'd been playing footy with 12 months earlier are now experiencing Grand Final week and what we dream of'. That was hard to accept. I'm only human."

Zach Merrett is among a host of changes to the Bombers' 2020 leadership group, with wantaway forward Joe Daniher and Orazio Fantasia also cut from the squad.

The complete overhaul will see four fresh faces serve under captain Dyson Heppell in the five-man group this year including Devon Smith, Dylan Shiel, David Zaharakis and Michael Hurley.

"It's just a good opportunity to reflect on your leadership style. I know last year I wasn't in the group but I think my leadership grew throughout the year," Hurley said.

"I saw things slightly differently, became a bit of a conduit for some of the players who weren't in the leadership group and some of the younger players. Zach will find ways to grow. He's a smart young guy, driven, so I think his leadership will continue to grow and we'll see him as a leader in the future."

Dylan Shiel says the prospect of winning a premiership was one of the reasons he chose Essendon out of four potential suitors.

"I think every player wants to win a premiership. I think during my time hopefully we can get one," he said.

"It was a pretty close call. All four clubs were great. It came down to the end when I didn't think there was going to be a wrong decision. But I thought where Essendon was in their journey and where I am in mine it seemed right for me to be at the club. It was pretty close in the end."

Dylan Shiel is traded by GWS to Essendon in the final minutes of the 2018 AFL Trade Period.

Essendon gave up two first-round picks – No.9 in 2018 and 2019's first-round selection – in return for Shiel and the Giants' second-round pick next year.

"He's a quality player and once GWS was able to release some players, they realised they had the capacity to keep him," Essendon list manager Adrian Dodoro said.

"But he had committed to getting to our football club and we had made the commitment to trying to get him. We're really happy that we have, he's a great player."

Contracted Giant Dylan Shiel nominates Essendon as his trade destination of choice.

"The Giants are prepared to discuss potential trade options with the Bombers that sees an appropriate return for the club," a statement from GWS read.

"Dylan is contracted to the Giants for the 2019 season and he will remain a Giant should a suitable trade not be reached."

St Kilda says it has put its best foot forward after meeting with Dylan Shiel in an effort to convince him to join the club in 2019.

"We think we did a good job presenting the club in its best light and asking him how he can make the club better and what we can do for him and (partner) Georgie as St Kilda people for the rest of their lives," Saints football manager Simon Lethlean said.

"I think he's having a good think about that but he's obviously got other clubs doing equally as good presentations as ours."

Hawthorn is firming as the favourite to land GWS midfield star Dylan Shiel.

The Hawks' main rivals in the race for Shiel are Carlton and St Kilda, with Essendon believed to have dropped out of the running.

St Kilda and Carlton are offering significantly more money than the Hawks: the Saints reportedly have a six-year deal worth up to $8 million on the table, while the Hawks' offer is no more than $900,000 a season.

The Blues are pulling out all stops to convince Shiel his future lies at Visy Park, having reportedly flown the midfielder to Noosa to meet with club powerbrokers.

Greater Western Sydney has given Dylan Shiel permission to meet with opposition clubs ahead of next month's NAB AFL Trade Period as the expansion club continues to explore ways to ease its salary cap squeeze.

Dylan Shiel's manager Paul Connors concedes his client may leave the Giants despite being contracted for another year.

"I wouldn't be surprised either way," Connors said.

"He's contracted for another year and, like all trades for anyone in contract, it has to work both ways."

Matt de Boer's remarkable career renaissance after being elevated into a new-look leadership group at Greater Western Sydney.

The Giants will again be led by co-captains Callan Ward and Phil Davis, who continue in the role for the seventh straight year, with vice-captain Stephen Coniglio joined by star midfielder Josh Kelly as a deputy.

All Australian Dylan Shiel was voted into the group again, but opted to step away from his leadership duties, while veteran defender Heath Shaw also made way.

Dylan Shiel harbours no bad feelings to Trent Cotchin despite a bump in the preliminary final that left him concussed and out of action after quarter time.

"People have asked me if I wanted to see him suspended and I tell them absolutely not," Shiel said.

"I'm actually really happy that he got to play on; he messaged me the next week to see if I was OK and I really respected that.

"We play a ruthless game and I think every player accepts that when they cross that white line anything can happen."

Josh Kelly caps off an outstanding 2017 season, taking home the Kevin Sheedy Medal as the Giants' 2017 Club Champion.

Kelly finished 26 ahead of co-captain and 2012 Kevin Sheedy Medallist Callan Ward on 172 votes. Fellow co-captain Phil Davis (153 votes), 2017 Virgin Australia All Australian Dylan Shiel (152 votes) and running machine Tom Scully (137 votes) rounded out the top five.

“There’s no doubt Josh took his game to a new level this year playing a variety of roles and playing with a high level of consistency," Giants coach Leon Cameron said.

“He was part of our leadership group for the first time this year and everyone at the Giants admires his dedication to the club and playing group."

Richmond captain Trent Cotchin will lead the Tigers into the 2017 Grand Final against Adelaide after the Match Review Panel cleared him of any wrongdoing against Dylan Shiel.

"It was the view of the panel that Cotchin was seeking to win possession as his line of direction was always towards the ball and not his opponent," the MRP said.

"The panel determined that Cotchin was seeking to contest the ball and therefore contact was not unreasonable in the circumstances. No further action was taken."

Dylan Shiel will miss Monday’s Brownlow Medal event in Melbourne due to the concussion he suffered in the Giants' preliminary final loss to Richmond.

Tigers captain Trent Cotchin collected Shiel in the face during the opening quarter of the match with his right shoulder, but was cleared of any wrongdoing despite the fact the star Giant was ruled out of the game after quarter-time.

Trent Cotchin will nervously await the findings of the Match Review Panel following his bump on Dylan Shield in the first quarter of the Tigers' preliminary final win against GWS.

Cotchin bumped Shiel 10 minutes into the opening term as the Giant was bending down to gather the ball. The Richmond captain was also contesting the ball, but went low and caught Shiel on the chin with his shoulder.

Shiel played out the remainder of the first quarter, but suffered a delayed concussion at the first break and was ruled out of the game midway through the second quarter.

Cotchin's situation is complicated by the fact he has already incurred two fines for low-level striking offences this season, which means that even if he escapes with a fine for the Shiel bump he will be ruled out of the Grand Final against Adelaide.

Dylan Shiel signs a new two-year with GWS that will keep him at the club until the end of 2019.

"I've been here from the start and have seen this club develop over the years," Shiel said.

"We're a close playing group and Sydney is home for me.

"We've built a strong culture and a loyal fan base and I'm really looking forward to helping the Giants continue to grow."

Out-of-contract Giant Dylan Shiel all but ends speculation about his future at the club.

"I'm pretty happy here," he said.

"I can honestly say I'm loving my time here at the Giants, obviously we're coming off a fantastic year and I'm not looking to entertain any offers from elsewhere.

"I've told my manager and I've spoken to family and friends about it; I'm pretty happy in Sydney so I don't think it's going to be an issue."

Dylan Shiel is in the top 15 of the Schick AFL Player Ratings for the first time in his career.

Shiel started the year ranked 79 and has moved up to 14. His improvement, in percentage terms, is the best in the competition.

Dylan Shiel believes missing eight games at the end of last year has him in good shape to hopefully better the blistering start he made to the 2015 season.

"It's been 7-8 months since I last played. I was really enjoying my footy last year and how we were performing as a team so I'm really looking forward to getting that going again," he said.

"The injury has given me extra time to prepare for this season, but probably the most important thing for me is that I've had a few pre-seasons now and my fitness is at a really good level."

Callan Ward and key defender Phil Davis will co-captain GWS for a fifth-straight season, but Shane Mumford and Tom Scully have made way for four new additions to the group.

Reigning club champion Heath Shaw will again support Ward and Davis, who have shared the skipper's role since the Giants entered the competition in 2012.

Gun midfielders Stephen Coniglio, Dylan Shiel and Devon Smith, and defender Matt Buntine, all 22-year-old Giants' 'originals', have been given a spot on the leadership team for the first time.

"We've had young guys who have been doing leadership stuff for four years that they've been here and they're ready to step in," Ward said.

"We didn't want the group too large, and seven is the perfect number for us.

"We've got four fifth-year players who are terrific leaders, terrific men; that's what we're about at this football club, great men and great people so I think it's really good signs for us.

"They'll fill the shoes really well."

Greater Western Sydney has received bad news on Dylan Shiel's knee injury, with the midfielder to undergo surgery this week on a torn lateral meniscus.

The silky left-footer will have arthroscopic surgery on his right knee to determine the extent of the injury, which could sideline him for between six to 12 weeks.

If doctors find any significant damage, it will likely put an end to the 22-year-old's breakout season, unless GWS makes it deep into the finals.

Dylan Shiel signs a two-year contract extension with GWS that will keep him at the club until the end of 2017.

"I've made some great mates here at the Giants and this is where I want to play my football," Shiel said.

"I believe we're heading in the right direction and are on our way to achieving the ultimate success in the coming years.

"Having been here since the very start, I've seen the club grow both on and off the field and I'm enjoying life in Sydney."

GWS coach Leon Cameron says he has great confidence out-of-contract midfielder Dylan Shiel will resist overtures from his home state and remain with the Giants.

"Dylan Shiel wants to be part of our footy club," Cameron said.

"These young lads look at me in the eye and say they want to be at our footy club. They want to be part of something special.

"They've been here from the start. They want to be a part of something that hopefully we can build to take to this club to the ultimate."

Dylan Shiel insists ongoing contract talks won't be a distraction for him this season as he weighs up his future.

The 22-year-old Victorian is out of contract at the end of the season and is yet to re-sign with the Giants.

"I won't lie, it's always hard obviously with family down in Melbourne and friends but like any player you go through challenges," Shiel said.

"I feel like the club is really good at understanding the wellbeing of the players. Everyone has a really good lifestyle here at the club."

Dylan Shiel comes out of contract at the end of 2015 but says his focus is on having a big season and improving as a team with GWS.

"At the moment [the contract] is the last thing on my mind. I still have a lot of things in front of me [that] I have to work on to just get ready for the game," Shiel said.

Jeremy Cameron, Jonathon Patton and Dylan Shiel will undergo surgery with three rounds remaining for the year in preparation for 2013.

"We're being proactive with these young bodies," said John Quinn, GWS' head of sports science.

"With a player like Jeremy it was evident early on that he would need surgery at some point and now this will relieve him of his pain and give him the best chance for a full pre-season heading in to 2013.

"Patton obviously sustained the shoulder injury two weeks ago and the advice we received from the surgeons was to have the procedure done immediately. This will enable him to be ready for his first full pre-season, as last year he was hampered by a knee injury and subsequent surgery.

"We're very happy with the results of Dylan's surgery and whilst it is a six-month recovery for him, we have excellent fitness and medical staff to get him to his full potential by the NAB Cup."

Dylan Shiel gets receives a NAB Rising Star nomination in round 10 for being Greater Western Sydney's best player in their clash with Geelong.

Shiel tallied 21 possessions, five tackles, three clearances and two goals against the reigning premiers.

"After an injury interrupted pre-season, Dylan has shown the great talent we knew he had when we selected him and he has been one of the keys in our midfield," GWS coach Kevin Sheedy said.

When Dylan Shiel swooped on a loose ball and found an easy route to goal against Essendon, he had no idea he was making history by kicking the first goal ever at Skoda Stadium.

"I didn't realise it was the first one, it was that far into the game," he said.

"But I looked at the scoreboard at one state and we were 1.9. It was exciting. The ball was just there and I was lucky enough to swoop onto it."

Dylan Shiel makes his AFL debut for GWS at Stadium Australia with 11 disposals (4 kicks and 7 handballs), a mark and 3 tackles in a 63-point loss to Sydney.