DYLAN Shiel said it would have been "hypocritical" of him to try to turn around Joe Daniher last year as he requested a trade away from Essendon. 

But the star Bombers midfielder believes there is hope Daniher could change his mind and remain with the club beyond 2020. 

Daniher's bid to depart the Bombers was thwarted after Essendon refused to trade him last off-season, with the All-Australian goalkicker made to see out his contract with the club this year.

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He has managed just 11 games in the past two seasons as he battled osteitis pubis, and is not expected to be ready for action until the midpoint of this season. 

Shiel, whose trade request from Greater Western Sydney to Essendon was granted at the end of 2018, said he believes Daniher, who reaches free agency this year, can stick with the Bombers beyond this year.

"For Joe, it was whatever happens, happens. [At the time] it was out of my control and fortunately we made the decision to keep Joe and I think there's still a chapter to be written with Joe and the Bombers and it's going to be in favour of us," he told AFL.com.au.

"I feel like it certainly can be like that."

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Daniher was party to Essendon's pitch to Shiel throughout 2018, as the gun midfielder weighed up his options and rival offers.

Shiel said he didn't attempt to change Daniher's mind last year, nor did he begrudge the 2017 best and fairest winner's call to request a trade.

"In the scheme of things, I'd been at the club one year and was still developing relationships and understanding what the club stands for and who we are," he said.

"Joe has every right to want to make decisions on where he wants to play his footy, and it would've been hypocritical of me to have a go at Joe for wanting to change clubs seeing as I just did that myself.

"It was a really good reminder to the general public and fans of footy and maybe a bit of the media as well that footy is just a game and there is more to life than just footy. Particularly someone like Joe who has lived in Melbourne and carries the Daniher name, it comes with a lot of attention.

"I guess Joe wants to experience life for what it is and not just footy, and found the vehicle for that was relocating to Sydney.

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"I spent eight years up there and I completely understand where he's coming from. Obviously it didn't go through and selfishly I was happy we were going to have another 12 months with Joe to get him up and going and hopefully change his mindset around leaving the club."

Daniher headlines the group of out-of-contract Bombers this year, with No.1 pick Andrew McGrath and speedy defender Adam Saad the other priorities.

Tom Bellchambers, Martin Gleeson, Kyle Langford, Shaun McKernan, Jayden Laverde and James Stewart are among the other Bombers whose deals expire this season.

Essendon's season starts on Saturday afternoon against Fremantle at Marvel Stadium.