Watching three ex-teammates win a premiership could impact Dylan Shiel’s trade decision

DYLAN Shiel’s temptation to move back home to Melbourne is going to triple if Collingwood salute in the Grand Final on Saturday. NEIL CORDY spoke to one of the former Giants who made the big switch.

DYLAN Shiel’s temptation to move back home to Melbourne is going to triple if Collingwood salute on Saturday at the MCG.

He will have no less than three former GWS teammates, Adam Treloar, Taylor Adams and Will Hoskin-Elliott claiming the game’s ultimate honour.

Shiel and the Giants have come close in recent years but are still yet to play on the game’s biggest stage - Grand Final day.

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Adding to their pain and suffering, they’ve been forced to watch on as a succession of former GWS players hold up the premiership cup.

Tom Boyd was the first with the Western Bulldogs in 2016 and he almost added the Norm Smith Medal. Last year it was Jacob Townsend’s turn to celebrate with Richmond.

With Shiel in the midst of deciding if he should go or stay, the sight of Adams, Hoskin-Elliott and Treloar adding to the list of premiership winning ex-teammates could seal the deal.

Dylan Shiel may be jealous of some former teammates. Picture: Phil Hillyard

“Dylan is a Melbourne boy and having family and the potential of playing for a big Melbourne footy club would be huge for him,” Treloar told The Daily Telegraph.

“Dylan will be talking to the people he is closest with, the ones who care about you as a person not as a footballer. Dylan is close to his family and I know he’ll be doing that. Whatever he does he will be like me and stay connected to the Giants.”

The connection of playing for the Giants in their toughest days is something that Treloar, Adams and Hoskin-Elliott all share.

The three Magpies were foundation players at GWS and suffered through a baptism of fire when they won just three games in their first two seasons and copped no less than 10 100 point plus defeats.

“There’s a bond going through it together,” Treloar said.

“I spent those first years in the AFL with Will and Taylor and to be here together and potentially win a premiership is just awesome. When we beat Richmond Taylor hugged me and said we’ve been waiting seven years for this — it’s been a long time.”

If Collingwood beat West Coast on Saturday the Giants will have been knocked out of the finals race by the eventual premier on three consecutive occasions. The Bulldogs went on to win in 2016 and the Tigers in 2017.

Treloar says his former teammates are class acts.

“They were heartbroken after the semi-final,” Treloar said.

“They lost the chance for a shot at a grand final. The relationships and bonds I have with my Giants teammates is something that will never waiver.

Adam Treloar is his early days at GWS.

“I love the Giants organisation, I openly support them, the only time I don’t want them to do well is when we play them. When they do win their first premiership I’ll have a smile on my face, as long as it’s not against us.

“I have nothing but respect for guys like Stephen Coniglio, Phil Davis, Callan Ward, Dylan Shiel, Jeremy Cameron and Lachie Whitfield and Leon. Leon messaged me through the week and wished me the best, he’s an unbelievable person. I can’t forget Ady Schwegler the property guy as well.”

Shiel still has another year remaining on his contract at GWS but has been linked with a move to St Kilda or Hawthorn.

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Originally published as Watching three ex-teammates win a premiership could impact Dylan Shiel’s trade decision