Toast Liam Shiels Retires

[spudmaster]

Thought it was worth a bump with the great man retiring after his last game against us this weekend.

I absolutely loved him at the Hawks. During his peak he was the epitome of consistency. Might not have been a “star”, but every club could do with half a dozen Shiels to improve the culture, standards and worth ethic.

Hope we chair him off after belting them by 100. Wouldn’t say no to giving him a couple late turnover goals

Great bump Phil.
A ripper of a clubman and always willing to do what was asked of him for the betterment of the team, such as run-with roles. Triple premiership player for the mighty Hawks, and like so many of our threepeat stalwarts, was sought out to provide leadership and experience to a younger brigade in their final years.
Congrats on a brilliant career, Pup.

 

[B&GBlood]

We lost games he did not play. He was important glue in that team. Well done Pup

 

[Simon Crawshay]

When Liam finishes his last game on Saturday he will know that he squeezed every last ounce of talent and effort from his body/career and that's a marvellous thing to have achieved.

I heard his speech on the radio today and really gave Clarko a massive big up, shows that for certain types of players like Liam Clarko was a very positive influence on their careers.

 

[CHUBBSS]

Just a tireless worker, great clubman and deserved everything he got from the game. Fitted in so well to the star around him and never looked out of place. A key player in many of our wins when said stars had a drop off, maybe he was the star as well!

 

[Paul Kersey]

Ripping footballer.

 

[toomanysquibs]

Loved what he brought to our side for so long, during our recent, great era.

I've always felt he was underrated by people outside our club by some margin. He'd have to be one of the club's greatest servants, and was right at home with the elite company he kept.

I hope we give him a huge send off post game and he's on the field, after we smash North right back to the cellar.

 

[badgrill]

2014 Family Day with my son

 

[MasterSamurai]

Some players from other teams ( tigers come to mind) were given AA blazers for the numbers that pup put up in the middle of his career! His kicking improved two fold throughout that period . We were definitely a better team when he was in the side! Well done pup , great career and hopefully even better one outside of football.

 

[Dixie Flatline]

2014 Family Day with my sonView attachment 2086080

Your son would be all grown up now, while Pup still hasn't aged a day.

Shiels made his debut for Hawthorn in round 10, 2009 against the Crows, having 16 disposals and laying three tackles. He played 11 games in his first season for Hawthorn, for a 4-7 win-loss record as Hawthorn failed to make the finals less than 12 months after winning a premiership. Shiels combined his football for Hawthorn in 2009 with completing his high school at Aquinas College Melbourne. He played six games for Hawthorn in 2010, as he served an apprenticeship at Box Hill, but Shiels broke out for Hawthorn in 2011, playing every game for the brown and gold as the Hawks narrowly lossed a preliminary final to Collingwood in one of the best finals games of all time.

Shiels made his name as a tough as nails inside midfielder, winning plenty of the football and also laying tremendous tackles. In his third season of AFL football, in 2011, he notched up 150 tackles, including three games of 10+ tackles each (against the Swans in round 9, the Magpies in round 15 and North Melbourne in round 20).

The following seasons, 2012 and 2013, were interrupted by injury, but when he was available, he would have been one of the first names placed on the teamsheet. In the 2013 grand final, he had 11 disposals and nine tackles as Hawthorn held Fremantle at bay in a fairly dour grand final.

Shiels added a second premiership medal to the collection in 2014, as Hawthorn steamrolled Sydney in the grand final on what was a most satisfying afternoon at the football. Against the Eagles in round 19, 2015, Shiels laid 17 tackles and had 21 disposals in a powerful display of midfield craft - the 17 tackles in this game remains a club record, and in fact Shiels holds the top three for most tackles in a game, and five of the first six (17 tackles, 16 tackles, 15 tackles, 14 tackles and 14 tackles, with Jai Newcombe also laying 14 tackles in his debut game back in 2021 against the Swans). Shiels had 162 tackles in 2015, to set a club record for the most tackles in a season (which stands to this day). In 2016, as Hawthorn chased the elusive four-peat, Shiels had another remarkable season at the coal face, laying 153 tackles for the season. For the sake of context, Conor Nash has laid 119 tackles so far this season.

Never a flashy player, Shiels accumulated over 5,000 disposals for Hawthorn in his 255 game career, finishing his time in the brown and gold with 156 wins (including three premierships), 3 draws and 96 losses. Shiels unretired at the end of 2022, heeding the call of his long-time coach and mentor to join North Melbourne. It's been tough sledding for Shiels and North Melbourne over the last two seasons, with Shiels only tasting victory four times in 32 games for North Melbourne. For the sake of Hawthorn's finals chances, here's hoping there won't be a fifth win for Shiels to savour come Saturday.

 

[Dragz]

Was a very solid player. Not the sort of Number 1 midfielder player, but the sort of guy you want around your top 2 couple of mids. Did well and a great career.

 

[Fastback]

Remember when he first started as a scrawny kid, probably just turned 18, but was blown away by how hard he attacked the contest. A true warrior (only 13 games short of 300) and vital cog in our 3 peat dynasty. Congratulations on an outstanding career.

 

[MuzzHawk]

He’s an interesting footballer to reflect on. Never really seemed to have a down period of form - he was just consistently good over a long stretch.
Almost 300 games is an exceptional career and a testament to his reliability.


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[Gaborone]

When Liam finishes his last game on Saturday he will know that he squeezed every last ounce of talent and effort from his body/career and that's a marvellous thing to have achieved.

I heard his speech on the radio today and really gave Clarko a massive big up, shows that for certain types of players like Liam Clarko was a very positive influence on their careers.

'for certain types of players'? I seem to remember the three peat with a whole team of players benefitting. What is it with some Hawthorn supporters that they cannot give credit where credit is due to a HAWTHORN great?