ONE MONTH ago it looked as though Liam Shiels might miss out on finals because of an ankle injury at the wrong time of year but fast forward four weeks and he’s a premiership player.
Shiels wasn’t selected by Alastair Clarkson for the Qualifying Final against Sydney, instead named as one of three emergencies for the game.
He had spent six weeks on the sidelines with an ankle injury sustained in Round 14, then finally returned for Hawthorn in Round 22 before lasting just one quarter in that game.
He had re-injured the same ankle and missed the final home and away round and it looked as though he wouldn’t play again for Hawthorn in 2013, given the difficulty of breaking into a finals side.
One month since the Hawks’ first final, on 6 September, Shiels has a premiership medallion.
It all began when teammate Cyril Rioli who, ironically, had also injured his ankle in Round 22 and too missed the Round 23 match against the Swans would be a late withdrawal from the Qualifying Final side.
Luckily, it was Shiels who got the call at 10.30am on the day of the game.
“I found out at about 10.30am that morning so I prepared from then on in just like I would any other game,” he told hawthornfc.com.au after the premiership victory.
“I had to take my chance, my opportunity and play good footy, which I did and I was lucky enough to hold my spot.”
A late inclusion for Rioli, Shiels played a crucial role for the Hawks that night and held his spot in the Preliminary Final team.
Against the Cats, he spent the opening term on Joel Selwood and restricted him to just two disposals before being moved onto Steve Johnson who had three goals in just over a quarter.
He curbed Johnson’s influence and emerged as a critical piece of the puzzle as Hawthorn marched to the Grand Final.
Of course, on Grand Final day he had another task ahead of him, that of nullifying Fremantle runner Stephen Hill.
Hill had 21 disposals but wasn’t at his damaging best given Shiels’ ability to stop his run.
It had been a whirlwind month for the 22 year old who was standing on the half back flank when the siren sounded at the MCG to crown Hawthorn as premiers.
“I’m over the moon. It is the best day of my life,” he said.
“It’s hard to describe the emotions, to get the premiership medal and do the lap of honour, it’s so surreal.
“I was on the half back flank when the siren went and Sam Mitchell was the first guy I saw so I just ran to him and gave him a massive hug.”
Shiels counts himself lucky to be part of the side’s 2013 flag.
“I had an ankle injury throughout the year and it was a hard side to crack into when I was back and fit because we were winning so many games,” he said.
“The footy gods probably looked after me a bit this year when I was a late inclusion for the first final after Cyril pulled out and I got the call up and ever since then I haven’t looked back.
“I was lucky enough to play some decent footy against Sydney and then hold my spot.”
