Will Langford’s remarkable AFL rise in the last two months has been a mixed blessing for his Hawthorn team-mates.

With Langford now a front-line onballer and Jordan Lewis recovered from his preliminary final corked thigh, veteran Brad Sewell is now near-certain to watch Saturday’s grand final against Sydney from the sidelines.

But it has also freed up Liam Shiels to play a much more attacking role.

The 23-year-old Shiels has relished the greater freedom that has come with not having so much responsibility as a run-with onballer.

Shiels started on the wing in the preliminary final win over Port Adelaide.

“I probably haven’t played the run-with role as much this year and Langford has come up and done that,” Shiels said.

“He’s a pretty versatile player – he can win his own ball and also go and shut down .

“It’s allowed me to play a little bit more half-forward or on the wing, or just finding my own footy through the midfield, which I’ve really enjoyed.”

While Shiels feels for Sewell, he said the 200-gamer would handle whatever happens this week with aplomb.

Sewell, Cyril Rioli and Ben McEvoy are all on the fringe of senior selection.

“It’s always a tough time of year for the blokes who are missing out,” Shiels said.

“The same thing happened last year.

“But Sewelly is a very valued member of the team and he’s been around for a while – he’s a very level-headed character.

“He’ll handle it fine.”

As it stands, Sewell and Rioli are among four members of last year’s premiership team who are not in the 22.

Brent Guerra retired after last season and Lance Franklin went to Sydney.

Taylor Duryea, last year’s hard-luck selection story, cemented his berth this time with a strong game in the preliminary final.

Shiels said the change of personnel was not only inevitable, but crucial.