Paddy Shea
Encyclopedia
Patrick 'Paddy' Augustus Shea (16 March 1886 – 29 May 1954) was an Australian rules football
er who played for Fitzroy
and Essendon
in the Victorian Football League
(VFL). He was from a talented sporting family, with his brother Mark also having a career at Essendon and his nephew John played cricket for Western Australia. Shea himself was a first-class cricket
er with Victoria
.
Shea's VFL career began at Fitzroy in 1904 but after one season he opted to move to Western Australia where he joined Goldfields Football Association
club Boulder City. He spent three years with Boulder City before returning to Victoria and making his Essendon debut in 1908.
He played mostly as a half forward flanker and was one of the first players to use the 'banana kick' as well as the 'checkside' punt. This goal sense saw him top Essendon's goalkicking in 1909 with 40 majors. Such was his consistency up forward that he kicked a goal in each of his 17 games in the 1911 season
but finished the year with just 25 goals. He was a member of Essendon premiership sides in 1911 and 1912. A Victorian interstate representative, Shea coached Essendon Association
in the VFA for a period after retiring from the VFL. He holds the record for most VFL goals kicked at the East Melbourne Cricket Ground
, with 85.
As a cricketer Shea was a left-handed batsman and right-arm medium pace bowler. He made three first-class appearances, his debut coming against Tasmania at the Melbourne Cricket Ground
in 1912/13. Although Shea made little impact in the match, his Essendon premiership teammate Bill Sewart
scored a century. His second match wasn't until seven years later and was a Sheffield Shield encounter against New South Wales at the SCG. He took the wickets of Test players Charlie Macartney and Arthur Mailey
. His final match was against Queensland a week later and he finished his career with 84 runs at 14.00 and five wickets at 43.80.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er who played for Fitzroy
Fitzroy Football Club
The Fitzroy Football Club, formerly nicknamed The Lions, is an Australian rules football club formed in 1883 to represent the inner Melbourne suburb of Fitzroy, Victoria and was a foundation member club of the Victorian Football League on its inception in 1897...
and Essendon
Essendon Football Club
The Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
in the Victorian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
(VFL). He was from a talented sporting family, with his brother Mark also having a career at Essendon and his nephew John played cricket for Western Australia. Shea himself was a first-class cricket
First-class cricket
First-class cricket is a class of cricket that consists of matches of three or more days' scheduled duration, that are between two sides of eleven players and are officially adjudged first-class by virtue of the standard of the competing teams...
er with Victoria
Victorian Bushrangers
The Victorian cricket team, nicknamed the Bushrangers, is an Australian cricket team based in Melbourne, that represents the state of Victoria. It is administered by Cricket Victoria and draws its players from Melbourne's Premier Cricket competition...
.
Shea's VFL career began at Fitzroy in 1904 but after one season he opted to move to Western Australia where he joined Goldfields Football Association
Goldfields Football League
The Goldfields Football League is a regional Australian football league based in the Kalgoorlie region, Western Australia. Originally founded in 1896 as Hannans District Football Association, the league enjoyed a seat and full voting rights on the Australian National Football Council until 1919...
club Boulder City. He spent three years with Boulder City before returning to Victoria and making his Essendon debut in 1908.
He played mostly as a half forward flanker and was one of the first players to use the 'banana kick' as well as the 'checkside' punt. This goal sense saw him top Essendon's goalkicking in 1909 with 40 majors. Such was his consistency up forward that he kicked a goal in each of his 17 games in the 1911 season
1911 VFL season
Results and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1911.-Premiership season:In 1911, the VFL competition consisted of ten teams of 18 on-the-field players each, with no "reserves", although any of the 18 players who had left the playing field for any reason could later resume their...
but finished the year with just 25 goals. He was a member of Essendon premiership sides in 1911 and 1912. A Victorian interstate representative, Shea coached Essendon Association
Essendon Association Football Club
Essendon Association Football Club was an Australian rules football club which played in the Victorian Football Association from 1900 until 1921. The 'Dreadnoughts', who wore black and red, played their home games at the Essendon Recreation Reserve...
in the VFA for a period after retiring from the VFL. He holds the record for most VFL goals kicked at the East Melbourne Cricket Ground
East Melbourne Cricket Ground
The East Melbourne Cricket Ground was a sports venue located at the corner of Wellington Parade and Jolimont Parade, in East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia...
, with 85.
As a cricketer Shea was a left-handed batsman and right-arm medium pace bowler. He made three first-class appearances, his debut coming against Tasmania at the Melbourne Cricket Ground
Melbourne Cricket Ground
The Melbourne Cricket Ground is an Australian sports stadium located in Yarra Park, Melbourne and is home to the Melbourne Cricket Club. It is the tenth largest stadium in the world, the largest in Australia, the largest stadium for playing cricket, and holds the world record for the highest light...
in 1912/13. Although Shea made little impact in the match, his Essendon premiership teammate Bill Sewart
Bill Sewart
William 'Bill' Isaac Sewart was an Australian rules footballer who played with Essendon in the VFL. He was also a first-class cricketer, representing both Queensland and Victoria....
scored a century. His second match wasn't until seven years later and was a Sheffield Shield encounter against New South Wales at the SCG. He took the wickets of Test players Charlie Macartney and Arthur Mailey
Arthur Mailey
Arthur Alfred Mailey was an Australian cricketer who played in 21 Test matches between 1920 and 1926....
. His final match was against Queensland a week later and he finished his career with 84 runs at 14.00 and five wickets at 43.80.