Essendon senior coach Ben Rutten has provided an update on the role for Dylan Shiel, speaking on SEN on Monday morning Rutten was bullish on a midfield role in particular centre bounce usage for Shiel.
Rutten also forecast a move forward ahead of the ball as his secondary role.
Shiel injured his knee late in Round 2 against Port Adelaide, he did not return until Round 19.
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Shiel was used at 68.9% of centre bounces in his opening two games of the 2021 season, once he returned from injury his usage dropped to 48.4% from his final six games.
He was used at 71.0% of centre bounces in the 2020 season.
“He’d been developing over the course of the summer as playing certainly on-ball,”
“I think he had as good a strike rate at centre bounces as any player in the competition early in the season & then we just missed him (through injury)”
“I think to be able to play in & around the ball & ahead of the ball, I think that’s going to be where Dylan best suits”
“So to be able to get him & (Jye) Caldwell into that midfield mix that we didn’t have for large parts of the season this year I think is going to really strengthen our playing group” Bombers Snr coach Ben Rutten via SEN.
FANTASY IMPACT: Dylan Shiel averaged 66.0pts from 8 games in 2021, he recorded a season high 86pts in the Preliminary Final against the Western Bulldogs.
With only 7 games played in the 2021 H&A season he will be slightly discounted in season long fantasy, his ADP will slide compared to the 2021 season.
Shiel will be 29 at the start of the 2022 H&A season, he could see moderate centre bounce usage with strong midfield depth currently at Essendon.
Zach Merrett & Darcy Parish will likely be used at a high rate at centre bounces in 2022.
Jake Stringer, Dylan Shiel, Jye Caldwell, Andrew McGrath & Kyle Langford will also be seeking centre bounce usage in 2022.
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Photo Credit: Essendon
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