GWS Giants expect Dylan Shiel to leave for Victorian club
THERE is a growing feeling of resignation at the Giants that Dylan Shiel, who is a prime target for Victorian clubs, has played his last game for the club.
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THERE is a growing feeling of resignation at the Giants that Dylan Shiel has played his last game for the club.
Shiel, 25, still has a year to run on his contract with GWS but his teammates, including co-captain Phil Davis, know Shiel is a prime target for Victorian clubs Melbourne, Hawthorn, Carlton and Essendon.
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“It’s like an arms race for the best players. Every club is trying to poach someone,” Davis said.
“We have a great list. It’s obviously not perfect because we haven’t won anything yet. That’s when the hard decisions come. Are we a better team with Dylan Shiel in it? One hundred per cent we are.
“But there is a balancing act. I don’t know the details, obviously he’s contracted.
“I think he’s an important part of the group and I would love him to stay, but there are smarter men than me in place to make decisions about that on how it all looks.”
Davis also indicated there could be some personnel changes in the Giants’ off-field staff after another shocking year with injuries.
Star players Tom Scully, Toby Greene, Josh Kelly, Zac Williams and Brett Deledio all had extended time out of the game.
“When you break the injuries down there is a lot of unluckiness,” Davis said.
“But there is also a trend. I’m not sure what it is. We have to make some hard calls.
“When you have your best 22 not playing in a competition which is so even it makes a difference.
“There is bad luck and sometimes you just have to say that’s unlucky.
“But there are moments when you have to control your controllables and the club will look into those ones and make sure we invest, discover and learn to get better.”
Davis and the Giants are still licking their wounds after Saturday night’s 10-point loss to Collingwood at the MCG.
GWS have now fallen a week short in their past two finals campaigns, leaving Davis to predict some hard list management decisions.
“We are going to have to make some tough calls,” Davis said.
“The game has changed. It’s a real balancing act now. I just finished my 10th season and it’s completely different to when I started when player movement was much more stagnant.
“You could grind away and create a list with an even spread.
“Whether it’s Dylan or whoever it is. His name is thrown around a fair bit. I’d love him to stay, he’s an integral part of the team. Clubs make hard calls and they have worked.”
Originally published as GWS Giants expect Dylan Shiel to leave for Victorian club
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