GIANTS midfield stars Josh Kelly and Dylan Shiel have capped off stellar seasons with inclusion in the 2017 Virgin Australia AFL All Australian Team.

A first-time honour for both, 22-year-old Kelly was named on the wing while 24-year-old Shiel was named on the interchange.

The pair were presented with their inaugural blazers at the 2017 Virgin Australia AFL All Australian Awards at the Palais Theatre in Melbourne on Wednesday night. 

Kelly has taken his game to a new level in 2017, missing just one game for the GIANTS and emerging as one of the competition’s elite midfielders.

Equal-10th in the competition for tackles after 23 rounds of the Premiership season, Kelly averaged almost 30 disposals and over six tackles a game while kicking 18 goals.

He had nine or more tackles on eight occasions throughout the season and averaged more than 11 contested possessions a game in just his fourth year in the competition.

Shiel has been a high-class model of consistency for the GIANTS in 2017; the 24-year-old is one of just three players to play all 22 games so far this season. He finished the Premiership season equal-third in the competition for clearances, averaging almost seven clearances and 27 disposals a game. 

The explosive midfielder had his best game in the GIANTS’ gritty win over the Eagles in Perth in round 10 when he gathered 26 touches, 12 clearances and kicked two goals.

Kelly said injuries to some of the club’s key players gave him the opportunity to develop his game quicker that he might have otherwise.

“It’s a nice recognition, reward for effort and it’s a bit surreal to be honest but I’m very humbled and appreciative of it,” Kelly said.

“With those injuries did come opportunity and I feel like I was able to step forward and fill those holes.  

“It’s not something you want happening to your teammates or your team but it did probably accelerate my development. 

“I probably did have to go into more of a permanent midfield role and no doubt that accelerated my development and I had to work on a few areas more-so than I would have had to.

“I always focused on being able to have that inside and outside balance. I probably didn’t have it in my first few years of footy but going into the midfield this year I feel like I’ve developed that.”

Named in the club’s leadership group ahead of the 2017 season, Kelly was selected by the GIANTS as the number two pick in the 2013 NAB AFL Draft.

“A big thing for AFL players and maturity as you go into the system is gaining confidence,” he said.

“I think my first few years I spent building that up; getting comfortable with my teammates, getting comfortable on the pitch.

“Being named in the leadership group was a huge honour and I feel like that definitely gave me a sense of acknowledgement and purpose within the group and that brought confidence on game day.” 

Shiel said it was a huge honour after several consistent seasons at the top level.

“It’s really nice to get that acknowledgement after a hard season,” Shiel said.

“This year I didn’t really think about All Australian selection. I thought I might be a chance in the top-40 but I didn’t think anything more than that.

“I’m not really sure whether the selectors look at impact on the game or just raw numbers but I like to think that I have a combination of both that went in my favour. 

“I was part of the midfield that scored more from stoppages than any other midfield in the competition so I was able to play a part in that. 

“Shane (Mumford) was putting it down our throats every week so we’ve probably got him to thank for it.” 

Now in his sixth season, Shiel was one of the club’s inaugural players, joining the GIANTS as a 17-year-old access selection in 2011.

“It’s special to know that being a player from the start here and to receive a selection now is a nice little achievement and hopefully it’s just a stepping stone to the ultimate goal.” 

2016 All Australian Toby Greene and midfielder Tom Scully were named in the 40-man squad but didn’t make the final team.

Kelly and Shiel join Jeremy Cameron (2013), Heath Shaw (2015 and 2016) and Greene (2016) on the club’s honour roll as All Australians.