Fred O'Shea
Essendon
AFL career
49 games3 goals
- Debut
- R1 1910 v FIT30 Apr 1910
- Most recent
- PF 1912 v CAR21 Sept 1912
Stats
Bio
Recruited from VFA club Brunswick after starring in their 1909 flag, Fred O'Shea was a speedy wingman who wasted little time making his mark at East Melbourne. He played a pivotal role in Essendon's 1911 Premiership triumph over Collingwood, but his place in club folklore was sealed during the 1912 Preliminary Final against Carlton. Early in the match, O'Shea suffered a debilitating knee injury and was carried off; with no interchange bench existing at the time, Essendon was forced to play a man down. In a display of grit, he hobbled back onto the ground in the third term, stationing himself in the goal square virtually on one leg. When the game was on the line, O'Shea marked and slotted the winning goal—his sole contribution for the match. The injury tragically ruled him out of the Grand Final the following week and effectively ended his VFL career, leaving him with a legacy defined by that final, match-winning act of courage.
Profile
- Born
- 05 Oct 1886
- Died
- 21 Dec 1962 (aged 76y 77d)
- Birthplace
- Seymour, VIC
- Deathplace
- Brunswick, VIC
- Height
- 170 cm
- Weight
- 68 kg
Teams
Honours
- Premiership1911
Bio
1 revisionRecruited from VFA club Brunswick after starring in their 1909 flag, Fred O'Shea was a speedy wingman who wasted little time making his mark at East Melbourne. He played a pivotal role in Essendon's 1911 Premiership triumph over Collingwood, but his place in club folklore was sealed during the 1912 Preliminary Final against Carlton. Early in the match, O'Shea suffered a debilitating knee injury and was carried off; with no interchange bench existing at the time, Essendon was forced to play a man down. In a display of grit, he hobbled back onto the ground in the third term, stationing himself in the goal square virtually on one leg. When the game was on the line, O'Shea marked and slotted the winning goal—his sole contribution for the match. The injury tragically ruled him out of the Grand Final the following week and effectively ended his VFL career, leaving him with a legacy defined by that final, match-winning act of courage.