Liam Shiels
{{short description|Australian rules footballer (born 1991)}}
{{Use Australian English|date=January 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Infobox AFL biography
| name = Liam Shiels
| image = Liam Shiels 2017.5.jpg
| caption = Shiels playing for Hawthorn in June 2017
| image_size = 200px
| fullname = Liam Shiels
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1991|4|29}}
| birth_place =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| originalteam = The Basin / Eastern Ranges
| draftpick = No. 34, 2008 national draft
| height = 183 cm
| weight = 84 kg
| position = Midfielder
| currentclub = {{AFL NM}}
| guernsey = 14
| repstatsend = 2011
| debutdate = Round 10, 2009
| debutteam = {{AFL Haw}}
| debutopponent = {{AFL Ade}}
| debutstadium = AAMI Stadium
| years1 = 2009–2022
| club1 = {{AFL Haw}}
| games_goals1 = 255 (90)
| years2 = 2023–2024
| club2 = {{AFL NM}}
| games_goals2 = {{0}}33 {{0}}(7)
| games_goalstotal = 288 (97)
| statsend = 2024
| nationalyears1 = 2011
| nationalteam1 = Australia
| nationalgames_goals1 = 1 (0)
| careerhighlights =
}}
Liam Shiels (born 29 April 1991) is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the Hawthorn Football Club and North Melbourne Football Club, in the Australian Football League (AFL). Shiels is a midfielder who developed into a key member of the midfield for Hawthorn that would win three premierships in a row from 2013 to 2015. Shiels would also serve as vice-captain for Hawthorn from 2017–2018.
AFL career
Shiels was a 2nd round selection in the 2008 AFL draft, being selected at No. 34 overall. He was the youngest player drafted that year. Shiels was still a high school student when he joined the Hawks; as a result, Hawthorn needed to obtain special dispensation from Shiels' high school in order to enable him to train during periods where training clashed with his afternoon classes.{{cite web |last1=Sebastiani |first1=Paul |title=Hawthorn hope to keep Shaun Burgoyne despite Suns' interest |url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/afl/hawthorn-hope-to-keep-shaun-burgoyne-despite-suns-interest/news-story/d21277fe343e28aa33cd3e1f8153b7a7 |website=The Australian |publisher=News Corp |access-date=20 July 2019}}
Not expected to play in his first year, Shiels was training part-time and completing his schooling at Aquinas College Melbourne but after performances playing for Box Hill, Shiels was promoted to play against Adelaide.{{cite web |url=http://www.hawthornfc.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/4742/newsid/77795/default.aspx |title=Shiels next Hawk to fly - Official AFL Website of the Hawthorn Football Club|access-date=2009-05-29|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724191607/http://www.hawthornfc.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/4742/newsid/77795/default.aspx|archive-date=24 July 2011}} He played eleven games in his debut season.{{citation needed|date=July 2020}}
Shiels and Josh Gibson were the only Hawthorn players to play every game in 2011.{{cite web|url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/65399/qualifying-final-footy-flashbacks|title=Qualifying Final Footy Flashbacks|website=Australian Football League|last1=Allsop|first1=Richard|date=7 September 2011|access-date=2 July 2020}}
Shiels was made joint vice-captain of the club in 2017, together with Isaac Smith.{{cite web|url=https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/hawthorn-hawks-liam-shiels-learning-afl-leadership-ropes-20170213-gubc0x.html|title=Hawks Liam Shiels learns leadership ropes|date=13 February 2017|access-date=23 March 2020}} During Hawthorn's poor start to the 2017 season, Shiels instigated an assessment that the club was not playing satisfactorily.{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/just-not-good-enough-hawthorn-vicecaptain-liam-shiels-brutal-assessment-of-clubs-04-start/news-story/28020eafa9c032abfaa858a712eabfbd|title= 'Just not good enough': Hawthorn vice-captain Liam Shiels' brutal assessment of club's 0-4 start|website=Fox Sports|last1=Niall|first1=Jake|date=18 April 2017|access-date=23 March 2020}} In the preseason, Shiels was sent to the AFL tribunal for striking Darcy Lang, but was not suspended.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/afl/story/_/id/18723156/afl-match-review-panel-clears-hawthorn-liam-shiels-finds-brisbane-jack-frost-guilty|title=Liam Shiels cleared after stray elbow, Jack Frost suspended|website=ESPN|author=Australian Associated Press|date=20 February 2017|access-date=23 March 2020}} Shiels was widely regarded as having performed well as vice-captain and player during the 2017 season, registering a personal record for number of clearances per game.{{cite web|url=https://www.hawthornfc.com.au/news/466130/season-review-liam-shiels|title=Season review: Liam Shiels|website=Hawthorn Football Club|last1=Paine|first1=Jackson|date=5 September 2017|access-date=23 March 2020}}
Liam Shiels was regarded as having another good season in 2018, recording the sixth highest number of tackles in the league and setting a new disposal average record.{{cite web|url=https://www.hawthornfc.com.au/news/462435/season-snapshot-liam-shiels-|title=Season snapshot: Liam Shiels|website=Hawthorn Football Club|date=16 November 2018|access-date=23 March 2020}}
Shiels, along with Smith was replaced as Co-Vice-Captain prior to the 2019 season with Jack Gunston, though he remained part of the leadership group.{{cite web|url=https://www.hawthornfc.com.au/news/460391/letter-to-members-our-captain|title=Letter to members: Our captain|website=Hawthorn Football Club|last1=Kennett|first1=Jeff|date=28 February 2019|access-date=23 March 2020}} Shiels played his 200th game during that season, which was a 24-point victory over rivals Geelong.{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-07-21/hawks-stun-cats-at-the-mcg-saints-eagles-get-a-win/11327026|title=Hawthorn beats Geelong by 24 points at the MCG, the Saints down the Bulldogs and West Coast beats Melbourne|website=ABC News|date=21 July 2019|access-date=23 March 2020}}
On 31 August 2022, Shiels announced his retirement after 14 seasons, 255 games & 3 premierships with the Hawks.{{cite web|url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/833158/its-been-a-great-journey-three-time-premiership-hawk-liam-shiels-says-farewell#:~:text=Brought%20to%20you%20by&text=HAWTHORN%20veteran%20Liam%20Shiels%20has,of%202013%2C%202014%20and%202015.|title='It's been a great journey': Three-time premiership Hawk says farewell|website=AFL|author=Staff Writer|date=1 September 2022|access-date=1 September 2022}} His retirement didn't last long though, as on 22 November 2022, he came out of retirement to play for North Melbourne as a rookie listed player, reuniting with coach Alistair Clarkson.{{cite web|url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/867852/three-time-flag-hawk-set-to-reunite-with-clarkson-at-roos|title=Three-time premiership Hawk set to come out of retirement|website=AFL|last1=Twomey|first1=Callum|date=22 November 2022|access-date=22 November 2022}}
Statistics
{{Australian rules football statistics legend|p=y}}
{{AFL player statistics start with votes}}
|-
| 2009 || {{AFL Haw}} || 26
| 11 || 1 || 3 || 65 || 85 || 150 || 25 || 49 || 0.1 || 0.3 || 5.9 || 7.7 || 13.6 || 2.3 || 4.5 || 0
|-
| 2010 || {{AFL Haw}} || 26
| 6 || 0 || 0 || 37 || 27 || 64 || 25 || 26 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 6.2 || 4.5 || 10.7 || 4.2 || 4.3 || 0
|-
| 2011 || {{AFL Haw}} || 26
| 25 || 11 || 14 || 344 || 221 || 565 || 138 || 150 || 0.4 || 0.6 || 13.8 || 8.8 || 22.6 || 5.5 || 6.0 || 0
|-
| 2012 || {{AFL Haw}} || 26
| 22 || 7 || 7 || 243 || 177 || 420 || 74 || 106 || 0.3 || 0.3 || 11.0 || 8.0 || 19.1 || 3.4 || 4.8 || 1
|-
| bgcolor=F0E68C | 2013# || {{AFL Haw}} || 26
| 17 || 3 || 8 || 164 || 96 || 260 || 61 || 54 || 0.2 || 0.5 || 9.6 || 5.6 || 15.3 || 3.6 || 3.2 || 0
|-
| bgcolor=F0E68C | 2014# || {{AFL Haw}} || 26
| 21 || 8 || 11 || 292 || 184 || 476 || 79 || 129 || 0.4 || 0.5 || 13.9 || 8.8 || 22.7 || 3.8 || 6.1 || 7
|-
| bgcolor=F0E68C | 2015# || {{AFL Haw}} || 26
| 22 || 13 || 9 || 248 || 229 || 477 || 79 || 162 || 0.6 || 0.4 || 11.3 || 10.4 || 21.7 || 3.6 || 7.4 || 5
|-
| 2016 || {{AFL Haw}} || 26
| 18 || 4 || 8 || 191 || 124 || 315 || 41 || 153 || 0.2 || 0.4 || 10.6 || 6.9 || 17.5 || 2.3 || 8.5 || 0
|-
| 2017 || {{AFL Haw}} || 26
| 21 || 9 || 10 || 239 || 216 || 455 || 76 || 129 || 0.4 || 0.5 || 11.4 || 10.3 || 21.7 || 3.6 || 6.1 || 5
|-
| 2018 || {{AFL Haw}} || 26
| 23 || 9 || 3 || 332 || 200 || 532 || 85 || 149 || 0.4 || 0.1 || 14.4 || 8.7 || 23.1 || 3.7 || 6.5 || 8
|-
| 2019 || {{AFL Haw}} || 26
| 19 || 10 || 12 || 249 || 192 || 441 || 65 || 126 || 0.5 || 0.6 || 13.1 || 10.1 || 23.2 || 3.4 || 6.6 || 5
|-
| 2020{{efn|The 2020 season was played with 17 home-and-away matches per team (down from 22) and 16-minute quarters with time on (down from 20-minute quarters with time on) due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.}} || {{AFL Haw}} || 26
| 16 || 6 || 0 || 162 || 124 || 286 || 46 || 55 || 0.4 || 0.0 || 10.1 || 7.8 || 17.9 || 2.9 || 3.4 || 1
|-
| 2021 || {{AFL Haw}} || 26
| 21 || 5 || 4 || 244 || 200 || 444 || 93 || 99 || 0.2 || 0.2 || 11.6 || 9.5 || 21.1 || 4.4 || 4.7 || 0
|-
| 2022 || {{AFL Haw}} || 26
| 13 || 4 || 4 || 84 || 62 || 146 || 32 || 39 || 0.3 || 0.3 || 6.5 || 4.8 || 11.2 || 2.5 || 3.0 || 0
|-
| 2023 || {{AFL NM}} || 14
| 16 || 3 || 3 || 139 || 144 || 283 || 66 || 88 || 0.2 || 0.2 || 8.7 || 9.0 || 17.7 || 4.1 || 5.5 || 0
|-
| 2024 || {{AFL NM}} || 14
| 17 || 4 || 5 || 112 || 91 || 203 || 42 || 46 || 0.2 || 0.3 || 6.6 || 5.4 || 11.9 || 2.5 || 2.7 ||
|- class="sortbottom"
! colspan=3| Career[http://afltables.com/afl/stats/players/L/Liam_Shiels.html Liam Shiels' player profile at AFL Tables]
! 288 !! 97 !! 101 !! 3145 !! 2372 !! 5517 !! 1027 !! 1560 !! 0.3 !! 0.4 !! 10.9 !! 8.2 !! 19.2 !! 3.6 !! 5.4 !! 32
|}
Notes
{{notelist}}
Honours and achievements
Team
- 3× AFL premiership player ({{AFL Haw}}): 2013, 2014, 2015
- 2× Minor premiership ({{AFL Haw}}): 2012, 2013
Individual
- {{AFL Haw}} vice-captain: 2017–2018
- {{AFL Haw}} best player in finals: 2018
- {{AFL Haw}} best clubman: 2017
- {{AFL Haw}} most improved player: 2011
- {{AFL Haw}} best first year player (debut season): 2009
- Australian international rules football team: 2011
- {{AFL Haw}} life member
Cited references
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- {{AFL Tables | L/Liam_Shiels }}
{{2013 Hawthorn premiership players}}
{{2014 Hawthorn premiership players}}
{{2015 Hawthorn premiership players}}
{{2008 AFL national draft}}
{{2011 Australian international rules team}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Shiels, Liam}}
Category:Hawthorn Football Club players
Category:Hawthorn Football Club premiership players
Category:Box Hill Football Club players
Category:Australian rules footballers from Victoria (state)
Category:Eastern Ranges players
Category:Australian people of Irish descent
Category:Australia international rules football team players
Category:VFL/AFL premiership players