Star Essendon recruit Dylan Shiel has revealed he’s ready to go for day one of pre-season, for the first time in his AFL career.
Shiel, who’s been plagued by injury across his career, says he’s 100 per cent and is ready to go in the red and black.
“I’m fully fit, first time in my career I’ve had no surgery in the off-season so I’m looking forward to starting day one of preseason for the first time ever,” Shiel told SEN’s Time On as the Bombers announced their new major partner Amart Furniture.
The midfielder said he’s told Essendon coach John Worsfold he’s happy to play anywhere for the club.
“I am a midfielder, but in today’s game you need to be flexible,” he said.
“As I said earlier at the club today with Woosha (Worsfold), I’m at his disposal. Use me in the best way that’s going to help the team.”
Shiel joined a number of GWS players to leave this season, including Tom Scully, Will Setterfield and Rory Lobb, and admits they’ve got a tough job maintaining their list.
“It’s incredibly challenging to build a football club from scratch, but what GWS has done has been incredible,” Shiel said.
“I think the people down in Melbourne and the football states probably don’t understand the challenges that we’ve faced and what they’ll continue to face.
“It’s a hard market to create that football culture up in Sydney and I think the AFL are doing a good job and they need to continue assisting the club in building.”
Shiel said playing in Victoria for a big club was a “big factor” in his decision making.
“There’s going to be different factors for every player that decides to leave, but for me, it was the opportunity to come home and to be able to play for a big footy club and in front of big crowds,” he said.
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