Liam Shiels
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| Liam Shiels | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Shiels playing for Hawthorn in June 2017 | |||
| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Liam Shiels | ||
| Born | 29 April 1991 | ||
| Original team | The Basin / Eastern Ranges | ||
| Draft | No. 34, 2008 national draft | ||
| Debut | Round 10, 2009, Hawthorn vs. Adelaide, at AAMI Stadium | ||
| Height | 183 cm (6 ft 0 in) | ||
| Weight | 84 kg (185 lb) | ||
| Position | Midfielder | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | North Melbourne | ||
| Number | 14 | ||
| Playing career | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 2009–2022 | Hawthorn | 255 (90) | |
| 2023–2024 | North Melbourne | 33 (7) | |
| Total | 288 (97) | ||
| International team honours | |||
| Years | Team | Games (Goals) | |
| 2011 | Australia | 1 (0) | |
| Career highlights | |||
| Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com | |||
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.
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.[1]
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.[2] He played eleven games in his debut season.[citation needed]
Shiels and Josh Gibson were the only Hawthorn players to play every game in 2011.[3]
Shiels was made joint vice-captain of the club in 2017, together with Isaac Smith.[4] During Hawthorn's poor start to the 2017 season, Shiels instigated an assessment that the club was not playing satisfactorily.[5] In the preseason, Shiels was sent to the AFL tribunal for striking Darcy Lang, but was not suspended.[6] 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.[7]
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.[8]
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.[9] Shiels played his 200th game during that season, which was a 24-point victory over rivals Geelong.[10]
On 31 August 2022, Shiels announced his retirement after 14 seasons, 255 games & 3 premierships with the Hawks.[11] 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 Alastair Clarkson.[12]
