All eyes were on boom recruit Dylan Shiel in his first season at The Hangar and the star midfielder delivered in 2019.

The professional new Bomber added a spark to the club’s on-ball brigade, living up to expectations in an impressive season and missing just one game.

Shiel led the club for clearances and metres gained, while he also claimed career-high season averages for tackles and inside 50s in his eighth season at the top level.

He provided the side many moments of sheer brilliance, dazzling across the ground with his sensational speed and skill to show just how dangerous he can be.

KEY STATS

Games: 22

Goals: 9

Average disposals: 26.2

Average contested possessions: 11.1

Average clearances: 5.3

Average inside 50s: 5

BEST PERFORMANCE

Shiel’s effort in the Kick for the Kids game against North Melbourne showed just why the club did everything it could to secure the former Giant’s services.

He was simply sensational against the Roos, putting his speed and agility to great use and repeatedly breaking through the lines to drive the ball into attack.  

Shiel played like a man possessed with the ball in hand as he looked to expose his opposition at every opportunity, working tirelessly to claim a career-high 28 uncontested possessions.

He was absolutely dominant throughout the game, racking up 36 disposals, 866 metres gained, 11 score involvements, 10 inside 50s, five clearances and four goal assists.

MIGHTY MOMENT

The most memorable piece of play from Shiel, in my opinion, came a little over a minute into the second term of the Bombers’ stirring comeback victory over Adelaide in round 18.

He gathered the ball on the back flank before using his elite athleticism, alongside a selfless shepherd from skipper Dyson Heppell, to burst into the clear through the corridor.

Shiel took three running bounces as he stormed through the guts before turning an incoming defender inside out by cutting onto his preferred left foot and launching a 60-metre bomb straight through the centre of the big sticks for an outstanding goal.

2020 VISION

With a year in the red and black under his belt, you can only expect Shiel to continue to improve as he jells more with his teammates.

The 26-year-old is in his prime and fellow former Giant Devon Smith is on track to join the Shiel more often in the centre next year, which should give the star onballer an extra boost as he looks to build on his impressive start as a Bomber.