Apart from Shiel's personal progress, much of the reason for his big numbers has been the midfield presence of former Western Bulldogs captain Ryan Griffen, who has drawn the attention of opposition taggers, freeing up the likes of Shiel, Adam Treloar, Stephen Coniglio and Toby Greene.

In the past two rounds Shiel has snared a career-best 39 touches against Gold Coast and 36 against West Coast. He is averaging 28.6 possessions per game, the 11th highest in the competition. But numbers aren't everything, assistant coach Luke Power said, drawing as an example his former Brisbane Lions side's ability to share responsibilities for the team's benefit.

"If [Jason] Akermanis got the tag then it freed up [Simon] Black. If [Michael] Voss got the tag it freed up Akermanis," Power said of the triple-premiership-winning outfit of which he was an integral part in the early 2000's.

"At the moment it's probably Griffen getting the heat, though Dylan did against Sydney [when he was restricted to just 14 disposals]. Eventually it will be maybe Cal Ward who'll get the heat and allow Griff to be freed up. But that's what it's all about for a really good side."

Power, who has worked with Shiel as his midfield coach since 2013, said Griffen's arrival had had "a massive impact", allowing Shiel to do what he does best – get after the ball.

"But I think we're getting to the place where we're having opposition teams wondering who they tag, who they put time in to," Power said.

"The more blokes who you have like that, the better you'll go as a side."

Shiel felt his round three game against Sydney was "very poor" but acknowledged that sometimes, as part of the team structure, his role would be restricted, as it was in the Giants seven-point loss to Hawthorn last season at the MCG.

"I had a quiet one that night but it was a bit of defensive role I had on [Shaun] Burgoyne," the 22-year-old fourth-year player said. "Sometimes when you're having a quiet one personally but the team is having a really good game, you've just got to play your role and some players are going to be having better games than others. You've just got to do what you can to help the team."

Another reason for Shiel's and the team's fine recent form, which has them in the top eight, he said, was that the nucleus of the side now had around 50 games together. They know each other's running patterns and are able to share and move the ball better than previously.

The sense of building together has helped some players decide to sign contract extensions, though Shiel, Treloar, Coniglio and Will Hoskin-Elliott are not among them.

"I can honestly say I'm not putting much thought into," Shiel said.

"I'm in a really good headspace in my life here in Sydney. We've had a really good start to the year. My manager's not putting any pressure and the club's not putting any pressure on. The guys who are uncontracted, it will come in its own time."

The immediate task is to rebound from the crushing 87-point loss in Perth on Saturday and give the Hawks a workout.