Bill Shelton | Demonwiki (original) (raw)

DOB: 3 August <1902>
Died: 11 May <1995>

Debut: Round 7, 1919 against at
Last Game: Round 6, 1925 against at Punt Road

From: Punt Road Methodists/Prahran Technical School/North Melbourne/Brighton

Number: 30 (1919), 13 (1920-1924), 20 (1925)

Honours
Victorian state player - <1924>

Games: 54
Goals: 17
Career Statistics

A 16-year-old ruckman, Shelton trialled with North Melbourne, then was cleared from Brighton in June <1919>, halfway through his first senior season. At the end of the year Shelton was picked for a match between VFL and VFA players who worked in the public service. He played for the team representing state government employees.

He broke into the senior side almost immediately as Melbourne looked for players anywhere they could find them during a winless season, and added another 11 the next year but never played a full season.

He lived in Wonthaggi in <1924>, travelling back and forth to Melbourne each week to play. He joined the Wonthaggi club in early <1926> to test a leg that was injured in <1925>, and was cleared back to the Redlegs five weeks later. Despite this he failed to play another VFL match.

At 16 years and 315 days Shelton would remain the youngest player to debut for the club until Bob Stone played his first game aged 16 years and 25 days in <1942>.

His cousin Jack Shelton later played for St Kilda and South Melbourne.

Lists
Players without photos

Youngest Players

Notes
Shown in clearance reports as H. Shelton.

Media
Argus - 12/06/1919
Argus - 16/06/1919
Argus - 12/09/1919
Sporting Globe - 16/08/1922
Sporting Globe - 14/06/1924
Sporting Globe - 21/06/1924
Football Record R5 1926
Herald - 19/05/1926
Football Record R10 1926

Links
Australian Football profile
Boyles Football Photos
Demonwiki image gallery
VFA Project profile
Wikipedia profile