Paddy Shea

Patrick Augustus Shea (16 March 1886 – 29 May 1954) was an Australian rules footballer 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 cricketer with Victoria.

Paddy Shea
Cigarette card of Shea in 2010
Personal information
Full name	Patrick Augustus Shea
Date of birth	16 March 1886
Place of birth	Clunes, Victoria
Date of death	29 May 1954(1954-05-29) (aged 68)
Place of death	Northbridge, Sydney
Original team(s)	CBC Parade, East Melbourne
Debut	Round 2, 1904, Fitzroy vs. St Kilda, at Brunswick Street
Height	175 cm (5 ft 9 in)
Weight	76 kg (168 lb)
Playing career1
Years	Club	Games (Goals)
1904	Fitzroy	013 00(8)
1908–15, 1918	Essendon	142 (156)
Total		155 (164)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1918.
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

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.[1] 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.[2] 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.[3] 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.