Shanahan was arguably the biggest positive to come out of West Coast's horror wooden-spoon campaign, with the key forward making his debut in round 16 and going on to kick 12 goals across nine games.
The 19-year-old's vice-like marking grip is fast earning him the nickname "Shanahands'', and he has proven to be an absolute steal at pick No.30 in last year's national draft.
Shanahan is originally from Moama - a town in the Murray region of southern NSW - before coming up through the ranks with Bendigo and later Essendon's VFL team.
Any prospect of Victorian-based clubs luring him back their way anytime soon were quashed last week when Shanahan re-signed with West Coast until the end of 2028.
The Eagles have won just 11 of their past 95 games, and are still in the midst of the club's biggest ever rebuild.
Despite all that, Shanahan had no hesitation in putting pen to paper.
"I love this group. I love Perth. I love the fans," Shanahan said.
"I don't see a need to go home. I obviously miss my family, but I'm having heaps of fun, and I still head home in the breaks.
"I'm in a host family with Bo Allan, so we have a bit of fun and it's just good to be around another player."
Shanahan is fully invested in West Coast, but he would love to pick the brain of St Kilda great Riewoldt, who kicked 718 goals across 336 games.
"I love Nick Riewoldt," Shanahan said.
"I always watched him growing up. He was definitely my favourite player.
"I haven't met him, but I hope to in the future."
Shanahan started the year at 195cm, but he shot up even more as the season progressed.
"I've grown a couple - I'm high 197cm now," Shanahan said.
"It would be great if I kept growing. I hope to be inching towards 200cm, but if not I'm fine with that."
Shanahan's potential seems endless, with the spearhead even shining in defence when trialled there at times this season at both WAFL and AFL level.
It's led many to label him as a future superstar - not that he's getting a big head about it.
"We've got a lot of really good AFL players here who have done a lot more better things than me, and they're very humble blokes," Shanahan said.
"My parents too are very humble people, and they raised me that way. So yeah, I'm definitely going to stay humble."
West Coast's rebuild received a massive boost this week when star midfielder Harley Reid re-signed until the end of 2028.
Co-captain Oscar Allen looks set to head to Brisbane as a restricted free agent, which will likely hand West Coast pick No.2 in the draft as compensation, while contracted goalsneak Liam Ryan has requested a trade, with St Kilda his likely club of choice.
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