Dylan Shiel offered big dollars by St Kilda but trade decision will come down to environment
MELBOURNE-BASED clubs are queuing up for GWS star Dylan Shiel. And while one club believes it’s offered the most money for the Giant, another might have its nose in front.
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DYLAN Shiel is likely to return to Victoria, with St Kilda tabling a godfather-sized offer for the GWS midfielder.
Melbourne-based clubs are queuing up for the 25-year-old Giant, with Carlton among those linked to Shiel.
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Herald Sun chief football writer Mark Robinson said the hard-running left-footer has met with several clubs, with the Saints likely to be the most appealing financially.
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“St Kilda thinks they have offered the most money for Dylan Shiel,” Robbo said on Monday’s Trade TV.
“So if it’s about money, St Kilda should get him. It’s about $1.2 million (per year).”
While the Saints hope a beefed-up contract might lure him to Moorabbin, money is unlikely to be the prime motivator in a shift from GWS.
And that’s where the lure of flag success under Alastair Clarkson might be pivotal.
“I think that St Kilda thinks that Hawthorn are the frontrunner for Dylan Shiel and they’re not paying him anywhere near that money,” Robbo said.
“So it’s not about money for Dylan Shiel. He’s going to get well paid wherever he goes, so it’s all about environment.”
Robbo says the Bombers are another club to have shown an interest.
“Essendon’s two trade targets are Dylan Shiel and Jack Martin,” he said.
“It was reported this morning that clubs will be talking to Shiel this week, that’s not true. The clubs have already spoken to Dylan Shiel.
“Essendon have already pitched. They got their gang together and went and visited Dylan Shiel and said ‘right, we want you at the football club’.
“There will be follow-up meetings by club people with Shiel this week to try to sweet talk him into going to their club,
“But St Kilda believes Hawthorn is the frontrunner, even though they’ve offered him more money.”
Shiel’s future has been the centre of ongoing speculation this season, and moved into overdrive since the Giants’ finals exit.
Last week GWS co-captain Phil Davis said he’d spoken to Shiel and told him how important he was to the club.
Robbo said Shiel’s manager Paul Connors last week indicated the Giant was more likely to depart.
“It (the function) was just about to wind up and I said ‘Paul, give us a one-word answer’.
“I said ‘where will Dylan Shiel be?’
“He said ‘Victoria’.”