Kane Cornes believes Essendon has “zapped all the confidence and zest and creativity” out of Dylan Shiel.
Shiel, who signed a lucrative six-year deal to join the Bombers in 2018, has had a tough 2022 season so far.
The midfielder was dropped for Essendon’s Round 7 match against the Western Bulldogs before receiving a late selection reprieve and was mocked on-field by Sydney co-captain Luke Parker.
Shiel is averaging below 20 disposals this year and isn’t impacting games like he did in his first season at The Hangar, where he placed second in the best and fairest.
Cornes says Essendon’s coaching staff are mostly to blame for Shiel’s struggles.
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“I don’t know if you need to reprogram Dylan Shiel,” he told SEN Breakfast.
“I think you need to give him the confidence and the belief that he can be the player that we’ve seen that he can be.
“His first year at Essendon was excellent. I went through some of his numbers, whatever metric you use, he had a very good season.
“He averaged 26 (disposals), five clearances, five tackles, he was hitting the scoreboard and he finished second in their best and fairest.
“You have to make a way for this to work.
“This guy has attributes that they need in the midfield – he’s got power, he’s got strength, I think he’s a really good contested ball winner, he’s competitive, he’s of good character and I think he does run both ways, I think he can.
“I think they have pigeonholed him, and they have zapped all the confidence and zest and creativity out of Dylan Shiel.
“Two more years to go, you gave up two first-round draft picks to get him, he was a very good player in his first year. I think a lot of the blame is at Essendon and the coaches for zapping all the confidence and zest out of Dylan Shiel.
“Make it work – you wanted him, you identified him … make it work.”
Shiel was named on the bench in the 2017 All-Australian side while at the Giants.
The 29-year-old averaged above 23 touches from 2014 to 2020.