Keith Shea

Keith Sylvester Shea (10 August 1914 – 27 February 1951) was an Australian rules footballer who played at high levels in both Victoria and Western Australia. His senior playing career spanned from 1932 to 1945, although it was interrupted by the war.

Keith Shea
Personal information
Full name Keith Sylvester Shea
Date of birth 10 August 1914
Date of death 27 February 1951(1951-02-27) (aged 36)
Place of death Albury, New South Wales
Original team(s) Bacchus Marsh
Height 175 cm (5 ft 9 in)
Weight 78 kg (172 lb)
Playing career
Years Club Games (Goals)
1932–1937 Carlton 91 (101)
1938–1939 Subiaco 37 (69)
1940 South Fremantle 17 (14)
1945 Hawthorn 8 (8)
Coaching career
Years Club Games (W–L–D)
1940 South Fremantle 22 (16–6–0)
1945–1946 Hawthorn 39 (9–30–0)
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Shea was a half forward and played with Carlton from 1932 to 1937. He polled well in the Brownlow Medal, the closest he came to winning was in 1934 where he fell 2 votes short with an equal 3rd placing. Shea finished 3rd again the following season and equal fourth in 1937.

He represented Victoria on 10 occasions during his time at Carlton. It was playing for Victoria in the 1937 Perth Carnival where he caught the eyes of the Subiaco Football Club recruiters who signed him up for the 1938 season. During his stint with Subiaco he played interstate football with Western Australia. He was appointed coach of South Fremantle for the 1940 season.[1]

In 1941 Shea had returned to Melbourne. He accepted the coaching position at North Melbourne but Carlton wouldn't give him a clearance. He was still legally tied to South Fremantle whom themselves wouldn't clear him back to Victoria. Shea was fined while as Publican of the Notting Hill hotel was selling alcohol out of hours.[2]

Shea returned to the VFL in 1945 as coach of Hawthorn on a three year deal. When injuries got the better of him during the season he became a non playing coach.,[3] He retired as a player at the season's end but staying on as coach in 1946.

In 1947 he coached Rupanyup in the Wimmera Football League,[4] then moved to Albury the following year when he coached North Albury to win the premiership of the Ovens and Murray Football League. In 1950 he coached Griffith (South West FL) N.S.W., to a losing grand final. He was reappointed coach of North Albury for the 1951 season but died.

Keith who was a hairdresser by trade, died in hospital following an operation in February 1951 in Albury, New South Wales, He had been ill for some time.[5]

References
  1. "Football: South Fremantle's Coach. K. Shea's Appointment Announced". The West Australian. Perth, WA: National Library of Australia. 27 February 1940. p. 9. Retrieved 9 November 2014.
  2. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/214604006?searchTerm=keith%20shea
  3. [Keith Shea to coach Hawthorn |newspaper=The Age|location=Melbourne, Vic |date=24 January 1945 |access-date=29 January 2021 |page=7]
  4. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/72682896?searchTerm=keith%20shea
  5. "Keith Shea Dies at Albury". The West Australian. Perth, WA: National Library of Australia. 28 February 1951. p. 14. Retrieved 9 November 2014.
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