Although out of contract at the end of 2015 and certain to be in demand once again from Victorian clubs, the 21-year-old said his energy was directed at helping the Giants improve next season.
After what he describes as a minor reconstruction of the shoulder at season's end, he will be in rehab until Christmas although he will be able to continue running.
"Hopefully before Christmas I'm back into full training and ready to go for another few months," Shiel told AFL.com.au.
Having chalked up his 50th game against the Western Bulldogs in the last match of the season, Shiel is progressing well but does not shy away from the fact the Giants need to take another step forward in 2015.
After six wins last season and close losses to Geelong, Hawthorn and Collingwood, they have the potential to be pushing towards the eight next season.
"We have to believe that we can win," Shiel said.
"We [have] to get rid of those quarter or half a game fade outs that we still have that mean we shoot ourselves in the foot a bit. [Sometimes] we play good footy and then we just drop our bundle and teams run over us."
However the list is beginning to add the steel and maturity needed to eliminate such patches. GWS recruited elite midfielder Ryan Griffen and dependable full-back Joel Patfull during the trade period, more than handy additions to a list that acquired Shane Mumford and Heath Shaw last season.
Shiel says the impact of such experience can't be underestimated.
On the field, Shiel has noticed the mature heads take control when the pressure is on too.
"They have played for big clubs and been in big games so they know what to do, which definitely makes it easier for us younger guys going through those hard situations," Shield said.
Another good sign for the Giants is the way the young players have reacted to the opening of their permanent training base at Sydney Olympic Park.
"For the first time we have come back day one of pre-season to our permanent base, whereas every other year we have come into a facility we have never been to before and it's in the back of our minds that we are going to be moving again," Shiel said.
"The new facility is definitely great. We're all new to Sydney so it's nice to not only have a place to live in but a second home in Sydney as well that we always feel comfortable at.
"We're starting to get that feel at the club and it definitely helps the players' mindset."
It's a revealing comment from Shiel, who was one of the first players added to the Giants list, joining the club as a 17-year-old in 2011 alongside budding superstars Jeremy Cameron and Adam Treloar.
He is an exciting player to watch, stalking stoppages with a group one thoroughbred's gait and then exploding from packs.
Shiel describes his own progress as steady but is more effusive when talking about the growth in teammates such as Cameron and Treloar.
"You can definitely see physically they are getting bigger and stronger, and mentally their leadership around the club has improved as well," he said.
Shiel is becoming more entrenched in Sydney, having just been awarded the Macquarie University athlete of the year ahead of several Commonwealth Games representatives after completing the second year of a commerce degree.
The former Caulfield Grammar student and Edithvale-Aspendale player in Melbourne's southeast is also moving into a Balmain house with teammate Josh Kelly.
And his flashes of brilliance are becoming more regular, his three-bounce, left-foot running goal against Carlton in round 14 just one expression of the talent he possesses.
"I just got the ball and instinctively decided to take off and took a few bounces and luckily enough it just opened up and the shot was there to take and I took it," Shiel said.
If the instincts are right, Shiel is going to provide many more such highlights in the next few seasons.
The Giants know that and will be keen to secure him beyond 2015 when the chance arises. Shiel says he ignores the talk that arises every year about his future.
"At the moment [the contract] is the last thing on my mind. I still have a lot of things in front of me [that] I have to work on to just get ready for the game," Shiel said.
