Dylan Shiel

Last updated

Dylan Shiel
Dylan Shiel 2017.3.jpg
Shiel playing in June 2017.
Personal information
Full name Dylan Anthony Shiel
Date of birth (1993-03-09) 9 March 1993 (age 32)
Original team(s) Dandenong Stingrays (TAC Cup)
Draft GWS Underage Selection
Height 182 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Weight 84 kg (185 lb)
Position(s) Midfielder
Playing career
YearsClubGames (Goals)
2012–2018 Greater Western Sydney 135 (64)
2019–2025 Essendon 99 (29)
Total234 (93)
Career highlights
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Dylan Anthony Shiel (born 9 March 1993) is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played for Greater Western Sydney and Essendon in the Australian Football League (AFL).

Contents

Early life

Shiel attended Caulfield Grammar School, graduating in 2010, prior he attended St Bede's College in Mentone, Victoria. He was originally a Carlton supporter. [1]

He played seven games for the Dandenong Stingrays in the 2010 TAC Cup, averaging 30 disposals, kicking six goals and leading the league in contested possessions with 13 per match. At the end of this season he was signed by GWS Giants as underage selection. He spent 2011 playing for the Giants in the NEAFL one year prior to their AFL entry.

Greater Western Sydney

Shiel was one of 12 underage recruits that GWS had access to as part of their list concessions when entering the league, [2] and played in the club's inaugural match in 2012 against the Sydney Swans.

Shiel played 135 games at Greater Western Sydney in seven seasons, playing mostly as one of the key midfielders in the side. He achieved All-Australian selection in the 2017 season. At the conclusion of the 2018 AFL Season, Shiel was traded to Essendon.

Essendon

Following a salary cap issue at the GWS Giants, [3] Shiel was encouraged to explore his options elsewhere and with the intention to continue his football in Victoria in the coming years, he decided to entertain the idea. [4] He met with four clubs: St Kilda, Hawthorn, Carlton and Essendon and decided with the latter, Carlton explored extreme methods in trying to lure Dylan, flying the midfield star to Noosa on a private jet as part of a bold pitch to snare his signature. It is believed he turned down more than $3 million to sign with Essendon as he was chasing success over money and was put off by Carlton’s luxurious pitch which included caviar and an entourage of Carlton power brokers, including Chris Judd. [5] [6] The trade was done in the dying minutes of the 2018 Trade Period with Essendon sending Pick 9 and their 2019 first-round pick to GWS, and GWS' 2019 second-round pick being sent back to Essendon along with Shiel. [7]

Shiel commenced his first pre-season at Essendon in November 2018 with the expectation of slotting straight into the starting midfield in his first game for the club against his old side on 24/3/2019.

After a full preseason, Shiel played 4 games adjusting to playing in the Essendon midfield until playing his "breakout game" at his new club in Round 5 against North Melbourne. Regarded by many as best afield, Shiel recorded an astonishing 866 metres gained together with his 10 inside 50s and 4 goal assists. In the 2019 season Shiel came second in the Essendon Football Club Best and Fairest.

Shiel battled with form and injuries over the rest of his time at Essendon, including being omitted from the team at times throughout 2024 and 2025. At the end of the 2025 season, Shiel and Essendon agreed to mutually part ways after 99 matches across 7 seasons. [8] Shiel expressed an openness to continue his career at a third club if there is was any interest, but also a willingness to embrace retirement if not. [9]

Statistics

Statistics sourced from AFL Tables. [10]

Legend
  G  
 Goals
  K  
 Kicks
  D  
 Disposals  
  T  
 Tackles
  B  
 Behinds  
  H  
 Handballs  
  M  
 Marks
SeasonTeamNo.GamesTotalsAverages (per game) Votes
GBKHDMTGBKHDMT
2012 Greater Western Sydney 5125410812022839460.40.39.010.019.03.23.80
2013 Greater Western Sydney 521111119421741162700.50.59.210.319.63.03.31
2014 Greater Western Sydney 51791118620739365820.50.710.912.223.13.84.81
2015 Greater Western Sydney 5148916420236638550.60.611.714.426.12.73.96
2016 Greater Western Sydney 523131531932063982840.60.713.913.927.83.63.67
2017 Greater Western Sydney 525121532932765665920.50.613.213.126.22.63.711
2018 Greater Western Sydney 52361432127559666790.30.614.012.025.92.93.410
2019 Essendon 922915311265576681080.40.714.112.026.23.14.914
2020 [a] Essendon 9154618815934738520.30.412.510.623.12.53.56
2021 Essendon 9834748115516240.40.59.310.119.42.03.00
2022 Essendon 9193418924743662860.20.29.913.022.93.34.54
2023 Essendon 9126110511922432380.50.18.89.918.72.73.2
2024 Essendon 9920949518934310.20.010.410.621.03.83.4
2025 Essendon 9142214115529653400.10.110.111.121.13.82.9TBA
Career234931112724278855127208870.40.511.611.923.63.13.860

Notes

  1. ↑ The 2020 season was played with 17 home-and-away matches per team (down from 22) and 16-minute quarters with time on (down from 20-minute quarters with time on) due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Landsberger, Sam (14 October 2010). "Dylan Shiel is officially on Greater Western Sydney's list and has set his sights on AFL stardom". Herald Sun.
  2. ↑ Landsberger, Sam (7 November 2010). "Greater Western Sydney pair Dylan Shiel and Adam Treloar 'pick of bunch'". Daily Telegraph.
  3. ↑ Barrett, Damian (25 August 2018). "Damian Barrett: GWS Has A "Horrendous" Salary Cap Issue". Triple M. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
  4. ↑ Curley, Adam; Bowen, Nick. "GWS confirms gun mid talking with Vic clubs - AFL.com.au". afl.com.au. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
  5. ↑ @TonySheahan (11 October 2018). "@AFL clubs beware; billionaires using..." (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  6. ↑ Robinson, Mark; Anderson, Jon. "Giants' trade demand, Shiel knocks back $2m" . www.heraldsun.com.au. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
  7. ↑ Cleary, Mitch. "Shiel deal: How 2018's biggest trade got done - AFL.com.au". afl.com.au. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
  8. ↑ "Veteran midfielder departs Bombers after seven seasons". AFL Media. 28 August 2025.
  9. ↑ "Shiel plays last game for Essendon". Essendon Football Club. 28 August 2025.
  10. ↑ Dylan Shiel's player profile at AFL Tables
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.