By Peter Ryan
Essendon’s Dylan Shiel jogged everyone’s memories with an inspired burst of brilliance in the final quarter of the Bombers’ come-from-behind win over Fremantle last Sunday.
The exceptional final clearance from inspirational skipper Zach Merrett made the headlines, but it was Shiel – the one-time All-Australian Shiel – who shifted the momentum of the match.
Dylan Shiel with a show of strength against Essendon vice captain Andy McGrath at training.Credit: Getty Images
His three consecutive clearances midway through the final quarter led to Essendon goals as he used his ballroom dancer’s feet and sharp hands to put teammates into enough space to create scoring chances with deep forward-50 entries.
Quickly, the Bombers went from 17 points behind to one point up against the Dockers.
It was Shiel’s fifth consecutive game back following his arduous return to the AFL after a pre-season delayed due to foot and knee surgery. He endured a lengthy stint in the VFL, a tough test for someone with more than 200 games to his name.
But his performance provided a pointer to what a second coming of Shiel could offer the Bombers for the remainder of this season and beyond.
“Even now he would be in the top few at zero to 15 metres off the mark,” former teammate Devon Smith said. “[He’s a] very powerful, fast-twitch-fibre guy. He’s a freak.”
Shiel still has one year left on his Essendon contract but remains of interest to other clubs, such as St Kilda, who have been trying for a while to convince him to train under the bayside skies near where he grew up.
Shiel wants to make it work at Essendon, having been frustrated by injury in the past two seasons, and unfortunately for the Bombers none of their early midfield draft picks – Ben Hobbs, Archie Perkins or Elijah Tsatas – have been good enough to storm through the door the veteran’s recent lack of good fortune left open.
His best season at the club was his first, when he was second in the club’s 2019 best and fairest after crossing from the Giants as a big-name signing who was not only All-Australian, but had established with former ruckman Shane Mumford an explosive centre-square combination.
On Sunday, he showed that his football could still be elite and, in some areas, he is actually a better player than he had been before the foot problems.
His kicking has improved during his time at Essendon, while this version of Shiel also appeared more composed when he won possession.
His forward handball to Kyle Langford in space when the heat was on against the Dockers led to a Bombers goal as he resisted the urge to kick deep and long, and instead looked for the better option.
Defensive aspects of his game remain a weakness, but the improvement of Jye Caldwell, who was best on ground against the Dockers, and the determination of Merrett to contribute defensively, may allow the Bombers to cash in on Shiel’s strengths.
Dylan Shiel gave Brad Scott plenty to smile about, particularly late, in the Bombers’ win over Fremantle.Credit: Getty Images
Smith, who played alongside him at both the Giants and Essendon, has no doubt the now-31-year-old will re-emerge as a key player with the Bombers.
“At his best, he has to play with that explosiveness and almost on instinct. He is not someone you can harness and say ‘stand here, do this’,” Smith said.
Collingwood’s Steele Sidebottom has won a second flag in the twilight seasons of his career.Credit: AFL Photos
Not only is he one of the few Bombers with winning finals experience, but his training standards are elite, setting a benchmark for teammates, and he is more relaxed now after becoming a father last year.
Brad Scott doesn’t always say it out loud, but he is acutely aware of what Shiel at his best can offer. And it’s clear from the coach’s time at North Melbourne that he understands players can emerge from a down patch around the age of 30 and find their best in their twilight years. He may not be a “resultist”, but he could well be a revivalist.
Former Kangaroos Shaun Higgins, Nick Dal Santo and Jarrad Waite all flourished under Scott’s tutelage late in their career after crossing from other clubs, with question marks hovering above them about how much they still had to offer. That they would perform as well as they did in Kangaroos colours was not obvious to anyone at the time they arrived, but Scott made it work.
In more recent times, the Giants’ Callan Ward and Collingwood’s Steele Sidebottom kick-started their careers after doubts about their longevity emerged when injuries and form issues stifled them for two seasons.
Now Shiel has three more games and potentially finals to show just how valuable he can be to the Bombers’ immediate future.
Was it just a blast from the past, or something more sustainable? That’s the question many continue to ask.
In an era when judgments are often made at warp speed, Shiel has given the Bombers something to carefully consider as they weigh up the balance of their team and what they want it look like in 2025.
“He is very powerful, but pretty smart. If he gets his tail up and is confident, good luck stopping him. He’s a different beast when he is up and going as well,” Smith said.
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