Shiels to fulfil AFL dream with Hawks

By Casey Neill
BORONIA’S Liam Shiels will launch his AFL career with reigning premier Hawthorn while tackling year 12.
Far from overwhelmed, the 17-year-old Aquinas College student has taken the enormous task in his stride.
He never considered delaying his AFL dream to focus on school.
Shiels has worked towards finding an AFL home for the past three years.
Now his goal is to play his first senior game in season 2009, but he concedes it’s unlikely while juggling training and schoolwork.
“It’ll probably be difficult to get a game this year,” he said.
The Hawks took Shiels at pick 34 in 29 November’s national draft.
He was the youngest player selected.
Hawthorn general manager of player personnel and strategy Chris Pelchen told the Mail, Shiels was a talented midfielder.
“The way he trains is particularly impressive for a boy of his age,” he said.
Pelchen said the Hawks would be patient with Shiels while he completed his schooling.
“We don’t expect to see a lot of him in 2009, but we’re looking forward to having him on board full time in 2010,” he said.
It was schoolmates that first convinced the soccer devotee to give the oval ball a go.
“Then they just asked me to play for their local side,” he said.
He made his debut for The Basin Football Club before heading to the Eastern Ranges Under 15s team three years ago.
He impressed with the TAC Cup side this year and represented Vic Metro in the AFL Under 18 Championships.
As the Mail caught up with Shiels, he had just returned from a team training camp in Darwin.
“It was an awesome trip,” he said. “I’ve improved so much already.”
Heading into the draft, Shiels was hoping to stay in Melbourne.
“Hawthorn was the best case scenario, because I could stay at the same school and I wouldn’t have to move,” he said.
“Mum and dad were rapt.”
The Collingwood fan was unfazed about joining a rival club.
“Hawks are my second team,” he joked.
Shiels has modelled his play on retired Magpies stalwart Scott Burns and Hawks midfielder Brad Sewell.
Meeting Sewell was surreal enough, but Shiels will soon share midfield duties with his idol.
“It’s very weird. It’s a bit intimidating,” he said.
Despite his age, the 183cm, 79-kilogram midfielder was confident he could match other players physically.
“I’m pretty developed for a 17-year-old,” he said.
Breaking into the Hawthorn midfield is a daunting task for the teen.
“It’ll be tough to get a game,” Shiels said.
“But I suppose I’ll just have to keep at it.”
His main aim this year is to simply improve the way he plays his football.
He expects to spend much of the season with Hawthorn’s VFL affiliate Box Hill.
Shiels has found fellow new Hawthorn recruits Ryan Shoenmakers, Jordan Lisle, Luke Lowden and Shane Savage a great support.
“We’ve been hanging out together a fair bit,” he said.
“But the senior guys have been good too, showing me around the club.”
Shiels and his Hawthorn teammates will take a short break over Christmas before preseason training resumes on 5 January.
Shiels will stay in touch with former Eastern Ranges teammates and fellow draftees Sam Blease, Nathan O’Keefe and Rory Sloane.
“I was happy for them all,” he said.
“We’ll be able to help each other out.”
Adelaide selected Upwey-Tecoma junior Sloane at pick 44.
Melbourne took Blease with pick 17, and O’Keefe (pick 59) is now a Kangaroo.
More teammates may soon join them, with the rookie draft to be held today (16 December).