Former Dons star hangs up boots.
Dylan Shiel has announced his retirement from the AFL after a terrific 234-game career.
The 32-year-old featured in 99 games for Essendon over his final seven seasons following a trade from the GIANTS, where his trademark explosiveness and ball winning ability was quickly put on display for the Bombers faithful.
Already an All-Australian from his time with GWS, Shiel continued that form into his first season with the Dons, placing runner-up in the 2019 Crichton Medal and polling 14 votes in the Brownlow Medal.
In addition to some career-best performances throughout his tenure, Shiel’s professionalism, consistency on the track and caring character made him a popular teammate and an important leader in the twilight of his career.
Shiel’s gratitude for the game and the Bombers’ fanbase was apparent in his announcement on Saturday morning.
“To the Essendon Football Club – thank you for bringing me home. For seven years, you allowed me to pull on the red and black, represent a proud club, and be part of something bigger than myself. The experiences, the supporters, the relationships inside the four walls, they’ve all left a lasting mark on me,” Shiel said.
“To the GIANTS – thank you for taking a chance on an 17-year-old kid who didn’t know much, except that he loved this game with everything he had. You gave me a beginning, a family, and a foundation I’ll always be proud of.
“Along the way, I’ve made friendships that will outlast football. Teammates who became family. Coaches and staff who invested in me as a person, not just a player. And fans who supported me through it all, the highs, the lows, and everything in between.
“There were seasons where it felt like all I did was fight – for form, for confidence, for a place, for belief. Yet every time the game tried to push me out, something inside me pushed back harder. I’m proud of that maybe more than anything else.
“Thank you to everyone who believed in me, challenged me, supported me, or simply walked beside me. You helped me become the man I am today.
“Football is done for me now. The boots come off, but the gratitude, the love, and the lessons, they stay forever. (My) next chapter begins.”
Everyone at the Essendon Football Club congratulates Dylan on his career and would like to wish him, his partner Georgie and their children Blaire and Sloane all the best for the future.
