Liam Shiels was fortunately retired a month in the past however the triple Hawthorn premiership participant believes he can prolong his AFL profession for at the very least one other two years.
The 31-year-old was formally confirmed as a North Melbourne participant on Monday, reconnecting with former Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson at Arden St.
A self-confessed footy fanatic, Shiels will mix his love for recruiting and listing administration with a management position guiding the younger Kangaroos listing.
It was that pitch from Clarkson and North’s head of soccer expertise Brady Rawlings that satisfied Shiels to show his again on retirement and add to his 255 AFL video games.
“I still felt like I had footy left in my body and my body’s feeling really good, but at the time I felt like hanging up the boots and retiring,” Shiels mentioned on Wednesday.
“It’s probably only happened over the last month that this opportunity came up to represent the Kangaroos.
“I wish to get into recruiting and listing administration and there was a chance to do this right here at North Melbourne, and because the talks progressed, there was a chance to play a little bit of footy and assist educate these younger gamers coming by way of.
“We’ll get to the end of pre-season and the end of next season and sit down with Brady and Clarko again and assess where my footy is at, but I’d like to think that I’ve got at least a couple of years in my body.”
Clarkson has introduced a heavy Hawthorn flavour throughout to Arden St, with former Hawks utility Daniel Howe additionally becoming a member of the Kangaroos by way of final week’s rookie draft.
Shiels – who had spells within the VFL with Box Hill this yr – mentioned he had not taken his axing by Hawks coach Sam Mitchell personally.
“Hawthorn played a big part in my life and I’m forever grateful for everything they did for me,” he mentioned.
“To retire a one-club player was something that crossed my mind.
“I nonetheless felt like I had some good video games of footy left in my physique however they have been getting into a distinct route. I utterly perceive that.”
Meanwhile, former North midfielder Jed Anderson has signed with Gold Coast during the AFL’s supplementary selection period.
The Suns will be Anderson’s third club after playing 89 games for the Kangaroos and 10 at Hawthorn.
Born in Katherine, Anderson provides to Gold Coast’s listing of gamers from the Northern Territory alongside Joel Jeffrey, Malcolm Rosas Jnr, Ben Long, Sandy Brock and Lloyd Johnston.
