Thomas Frederick O'Shea (5 October 1886 – 26 December 1962) was an Australian rules footballer who played for Essendon in the Victorian Football League (VFL). Family The son of John O'Shea, and Elizabeth O'Shea, née Myers, Thomas Frederick O'Shea was born at Seymour, Victoria on 5 October 1886. Football Brunswick (VFA) He played 36 games and scored 17 goals for Brunswick, over three seasons (1907 to 1909). O'Shea was a member of the 1909 Brunswick VFA premiership team, kicking two goals in the Grand Final against Prahran on 25 September 1909. Essendon (VFL) Cleared from Brunswick on 29 April 1910, he joined Essendon in 1910; and played on the wing in the Essendon team that won the 1911 Grand Final. 1912 VFL Preliminary Final On 21 September 1912, O'Shea kicked the winning goal in the Preliminary Final against Carlton (his goal put Essendon into the Grand Final against South Melbourne, which Essendon won). "Reputed to be the League's top wingman during his period with Essendon" (Maplestone, 1996, p. 86) O'Shea had badly injured his knee in the first quarter, when he had been bumped in the air when contesting a mark, and had fallen awkwardly to the ground, wrenching his knee. He had to be carried off the ground. He returned to the field almost immediately, but did not stay long: "O'Shea now limped out [onto the field], and went in front of goal, but was overwhelmed in a wild surge, and had to be carried off once again". Displaying great courage, he returned to the field in the second half; restricted to the goal-square (he was unable to walk) he kicked the match-winning goal for Esendon, with his only kick: "O'Shea, who went out [once again] at half-time on the off-chance of doing something for his side – but in the main to keeping a man away from where be would be doing the most harm – marked the ball a few yards in front, and, nerving himself for the ordeal, he punted it through, and the game seemed safe". Many years later, the 1912 Essendon Coach, Jack Worrall spoke of the incident with great admiration for O'Shea's strong team-spirit, and exceptional courage: "One final in particular I will never forget Essendon was playing Carlton, there being no 19th man in those days. A minute after play began, Fred [O'Shea], Essendon's talented flanker, was carried off the field owing