Ian Shelton (footballer)

Infobox afl player | firstname = Ian
lastname = Shelton




birthdate = 24 February 1940
birthplace =
originalteam = Avenel Football Club
heightweight = 185 cm / 87 kg
dead =
deathdate =
deathplace =
debutdate = 23 May 1959
debutteam = Essendon
debutopponent = Geelong
debutstadium = Windy Hill
playingteams = Essendon (1959-63) (1965)
* 91 games, 2 goals
coach =
coachingteams =
* Seymour Football Club (1966-1969)
* Avenel Football Club (1970-1972, 1974)
statsend = 1974
careerhighlights = VFL Premiership 1962, 1965. Best first year player (Essendon) 1959. Official runner (Essendon) 1975.

Ian "Bluey" Shelton (born 24 February 1940), known throughout his career as "Bluey", due to his thatch of red hair, was a tough, courageous, fearless, and extremely fair Australian rules footballer, who played with Essendon in the VFL during the 1960s.

Shelton played as a centre half back, debuting in 1959 and winning Essendon's best first year player award. He was a premiership player [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1962_VFL_season#Finals] and best and fairest runner up in 1962, also representing Victoria during the year.

He did not play for the entire 1964 season due to an eye injury he suffered in a tractor accident on his farm in Avenel, Victoria.

He returned in 1965, also holding the position of vice captain, only able to see out of one eye. He finished his final season playing in his second premiership team. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1965_VFL_season#Grand_Final_Teams] He bravely chose to play in the Grand Final despite a severe shoulder injury.

Links with Ned Kelly

The young Ned Kelly saved a young boy from drowning. The young boy was Richard Shelton. Shelton's family gave Kelly a green sash as a token of their gratitude. Kelly, obviously held this bestowal in high regard, wearing the sash under his armour during his final showdown with police in 1880. The boy's great-grandson was Essendon's Ian "Bluey" Shelton. [http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/Ned-was-a-champ-with-a-soft-spot-under-his-armour/2004/12/10/1102625538990.html] [http://www.theage.com.au/news/National/Such-is-life-for-the-legend-that-is-Ned-Kelly/2004/12/10/1102625530637.html] [http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/09/16/1032054751911.html] [http://www.essendonfc.com.au/champions/profile.asp?ID=50]

External links

* [http://stats.rleague.com/afl/stats/players/I/Ian_Shelton.html AFL Statistics: Ian Shelton]
* [http://www.essendonfc.com.au/champions/profile.asp?ID=50 Champions of Essendon Profile: Ian Shelton]