We spoke to Hawthorn’s Elite Performance Manager Andrew Russell, to find out which of our Hawks have stepped up their game heading into the 2017 season.

Name: Liam Shiels
Age: 25
Guernsey: 26
Senior games (2016): 18
Senior games (career): 142
Average disposals 2016: 17.5

As tough a midfielder as they come, Liam Shiels shows up week after week, laying tackles as if they’re going out of fashion. He averaged 8.5 tackles in 2016, and posted a 33-game-streak with four or more tackles (Round 5 2015 – Round 14 2016) - the third best of all time.

While Shiels’ pressure and tackling intensity may set him apart, Andrew Russell has noticed several other improvements in midfielder’s game across the course of the pre-season.

“His running ability and ball use has gone to another level, as has his leadership.”

Indeed, Shiels has seen significant improvement in his time trial results; while he strode hard to finish a commendable fifth in the pre-Christmas 2.2km event, he kicked it up a notch when the players returned in January, charging to the finish line to take out third place.

Having experienced a slightly interrupted 2016 (a hamstring injury kept him sidelined for rounds 17 to 20), Shiels is feeling in good shape leading into the 2017 season.

“I’m in a much better condition than I was this time last year,” Shiels said during pre-season camp last month.

Read: Ten top improvers: Gunston