Keith Shea


Keith Sylvester Shea 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.
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 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.
Shea returned to the VFL in 1945 as captain-coach of Hawthorn, retiring as a player at the season's end but staying on as coach in 1946.
He died in February 1951 in Albury, New South Wales, after a short illness.