WITH tackling records making headlines over the weekend, Hawthorn’s tackle king Liam Shiels hasn’t given up hope of breaking the record.

Shiels leads the competition for tackles per game after eight rounds, with a phenomenal 9.7 on average in his six matches this season.

The 25-year-old has had 31 tackles over the past two weeks, racking up 15 against Fremantle on the weekend after a 16-tackle performance against Richmond the week prior.

But there’s plenty of competition – with Western Bulldog Tom Liberatore equalling the record for the most tackles in a game (19), joining Jack Ziebell and Jude Bolton.

“I think Libba had 14 to half time on the weekend, so he made by 15 on the weekend look pretty ordinary,” Shiels joked.

“I thought Libba was going to break the record. He had 14 at half time and just couldn’t get the last tackle to get 20.”

“I’ve played a bit of an accountable role on Dustin Martin against Richmond in the second half, and also Lachie Neale.

“Those blokes are pretty good at getting the footy, so I was just there to tackle them I guess.”

The Swans have a star-studded midfield, and whether Shiels plays a similar role on Friday night remains to be seen.

"(The Swans have) got some great players in there – Dan Hannebery, Luke Parker, Kieren Jack – you could probably name five or six of their gun midfielders.

"It could be a number of guys who I could go to."