Keith Sylvester Shea (10 August 1914 – 27 February 1951) was an Australian rules footballer who played at high levels in both

Victoria Victoria most commonly refers to: * Victoria (Australia), a state of the Commonwealth of Australia * Victoria, British Columbia, provincial capital of British Columbia, Canada * Victoria (mythology), Roman goddess of Victory * Victoria, Seychelle ...

and

Western Australia Western Australia (commonly abbreviated as WA) is a state of Australia occupying the western percent of the land area of Australia excluding external territories. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Southern Ocean to th ...

. His senior VFL playing career spanned from 1932 to 1945, although it was interrupted by the war and he continued on playing country football until 1950.

Family

The son of Stephen Sylvester Shea (1890-1958), and Florence Kathleen Shea (1891-1958), née Dowling, Keith Sylvester Shea was born at Bacchus Marsh, Victoria on 10 August 1914. He married Linda Jessie Elin Tuke (1914-1977) on 25 November 1940.

Football

Shea was a half forward and played with 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 in 1935 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, coached by Haydn Bunton. During his stint with Subiaco he played interstate football with Western Australia and polled 11 votes in the 1938 Sandover Medal. He was appointed coach of South Fremantle for the 1940 season. In 1941 Shea had returned to Melbourne. He accepted the coaching position at North Melbourne but Carlton would not give him a clearance. He was still legally tied to South Fremantle whom themselves would not clear him back to Victoria. Shea was fined while as Publican of the Notting Hill Hotel for selling alcohol out of hours. Shea returned to the VFL in 1945 as coach of

Hawthorn Hawthorn or Hawthorns may refer to: Plants * '' Crataegus'' (hawthorn), a large genus of shrubs and trees in the family Rosaceae * ''Rhaphiolepis'' (hawthorn), a genus of about 15 species of evergreen shrubs and small trees in the family Rosace ...

on a three year deal. When injuries got the better of him during the season he became a non playing coach. He retired as a player at the season's end but staying on as coach in 1946. In 1947 he coached

Rupanyup Rupanyup ( ) is a small town in rural Victoria, Australia. As of the , it had a population of 536. The name Rupanyup is an Aboriginal word meaning 'branch hanging over water'.Wimmera Football League The Wimmera Football League is a major Australian rules country league based in Western Victoria, with clubs located in towns in the Wimmera region: the regional centres along the Western Highway from Ararat to Nhill as well as Minyip-Murto ...

, then moved to Albury the following year when he coached

North Albury North is one of the four compass points or cardinal directions. It is the opposite of south and is perpendicular to east and west. ''North'' is a noun, adjective, or adverb indicating direction or geography. Etymology The word ''north'' is ...

to win the 1948 premiership of the

Ovens and Murray Football League The Ovens and Murray Football Netball League (O&MFNL) is an Australian rules football and netball competition containing ten clubs based in north-eastern Victoria, the southern Riverina region of New South Wales and the Ovens and Murray are ...

. In 1950 he coached Griffith

South West Football League (New South Wales) The South West District Football League was a major Australian rules football competition which ran from 1910 until 1981 in the Riverina region of New South Wales. History The first recorded Australian Rules Football match in the Riverina area wa ...

, to a losing grand final. Shea was reappointed coach of North Albury for the 1951 season but died.

Death

Shea, who was a hairdresser by trade, died in the Albury Base Hospital on 27 February 1951, at the age of 37 following an operation in February 1951 in

Albury, New South Wales Albury () is a major regional city in New South Wales, Australia. It is located on the Hume Highway and the northern side of the Murray River. Albury is the seat of local government for the council area which also bears the city's name – the ...

. He had been ill for some time.

References

External links

* * *
Keith Sylvester Shea, at ''WAFL Footy Facts''.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Shea, Keith 1914 births 1951 deaths Australian rules footballers from Victoria (Australia) Carlton Football Club players Subiaco Football Club players Subiaco Football Club coaches South Fremantle Football Club players South Fremantle Football Club coaches Hawthorn Football Club players Hawthorn Football Club coaches People from Bacchus Marsh