Carlton flies GWS midfielder Dylan Shiel to Noosa in bid to convince him to join the Blues

DYLAN Shiel is a wanted man in Melbourne, and Carlton has taken things to the next level by flying the Giants star on a private jet to meet with club powerbrokers.

CARLTON has flown midfield star Dylan Shiel to Noosa on a private jet as part of a bold sales pitch to snare his signature.

Blues powerbrokers sat down with the Giants young gun on the Queensland tourist strip on Tuesday morning in a bid to convince him to don the navy blue next year.

The meeting included Carlton list boss Stephen Silvagni, football director Chris Judd, coach Brendon Bolton, football manager Brad Lloyd, billionaire backer Bruce Mathieson and Shiel and his manager Paul Connors.

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Robbie D’Orazio, from Connors Sports, told a spring racing launch that Shiel would be returning to Victoria to play “at a big club”.

The 25-year-old gamebreaker is also being courted by Essendon, Hawthorn and St Kilda.

Carlton’s big play comes as the Saints table the most lucrative offer for Shiel — $1.2 million a season with the scope to go higher.

The Blues are in hot pursuit of Giant Dylan Shiel. Pic: Michael Klein

The Bombers have also met with Shiel and the Hawks, despite being unable to match their rivals financially, hold obvious appeal as a top-four club with master coach Alastair Clarkson at the helm.

But the Blues, whose offer is significantly less than St Kilda’s, are confident of getting their man.

Shiel grew up a Carlton supporter, idolising Judd and he has close links with Silvagni from his GWS days.

Shiel’s meeting with Carlton heavyweights rekindles memories of Judd touring Carlton with manager Connors in 2007.

The left-footer would find several familiar faces at Ikon Park, with Caleb Marchbank, Lachie Plowman and Andrew Phillips among the former Giants now with the Blues.

Could the Blues gazump rival suitors?

Shiel is contracted at GWS until the end of next year, but has become the subject of fierce trade speculation as the Giants look to ease salary cap pressures. It is unclear how Carlton would satisfy the Giants in any trade.

The Blues’ ramped up pursuit of Shiel comes after Mitch McGovern last week nominated Carlton as his club of choice.

Like Shiel, McGovern is contracted, but there isn’t expected to be too many hurdles as the Blues and Crows work on a suitable trade ahead of the October 8-17 exchange period.

Another Giant, Will Setterfield, is also poised to the join Carlton. The former academy prospect tore his ACL at the start of the year but has attracted interest.

Alex Fasolo has also been linked to the Blues after managing only one senior game this year.

As it stands, Carlton has picks 1, 24, 25, 65 and 73 for next month’s national draft where it is expected to use the first selection on exciting Geelong Falcons midfielder Sam Walsh.

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