Liam Shiels quickly learnt that nothing comes easy in the AFL.

It seemed like a dream ride to start with – one week he was at the house of Hawthorn mates, watching their team win the 2008 grand final.

Soon after, the premiers drafted the 17-year-old midfielder.

Setting aside his long-time Collingwood allegiance, Shiels was going to learn the football trade at a club that seemed set for sustained greatness.

But by early 2009, Hawthorn were ravaged by injuries and the signs were clear that this would not be a smooth premiership defence.

They famously played a pre-season match against Adelaide in country SA with a team also unrecognisable from the premiership 22.

“I remember that game … we had six Box Hill blokes play who weren’t even listed,” Shiels said.

“That’s how bad our injuries were at the time.”

The Hawks finished outside the top eight in 2009 and Shiels played 11 games after he was initially not expected to even make his debut.

It has taken them four years to return to the grand final.

“It’s exciting – I’m only 21 and to be playing in a `granny’, you can’t take it for granted,” Shiels said.

Shiels has played 63 games and become an integral member of Hawthorn’s powerful midfield, his pace complementing the “old firm” of Sam Mitchell, Brad Sewell and Jordan Lewis.

“Mitch and Sewelly are just warriors in there and us as young blokes looking up to them is just fantastic,” Shiels said.

“I will be using the boys who played in `08, just to get a bit of knowledge from them about the week and how it unfolds.”

Shiels admits he was star-struck when he first arrived at the club, sharing a changeroom with the likes of Lance Franklin and Cyril Rioli.

In his first couple of years, the likes of Mitchell and Lewis used a combination of encouragement and tough love to educate Shiels about how to be an AFL midfielder.

“It’s a bit of both – they’re great leaders, they know when to give you the stick and when to give you the carrot,” Shiels said.

“It’s a massive step up, especially the first couple of years, all you pretty-much do is eat, sleep and train.

“It’s a great `school’ to be in, learning from the likes of Sam, Sewelly, Jordan Lewis, Hodgey, Chance Bateman – I could probably reel off 10 different names.”