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 in 1935 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, coached by
Haydn Bunton. During his stint with Subiaco he played interstate football with Western Australia and polled 11 votes in the 1938 Sandover Medal. He was appointed coach of
South Fremantle for the
1940 season. In 1941 Shea had returned to Melbourne. He accepted the coaching position at North Melbourne but Carlton would not give him a clearance. He was still legally tied to South Fremantle whom themselves would not clear him back to Victoria. Shea was fined while as Publican of the Notting Hill Hotel for selling alcohol out of hours. Shea returned to the VFL in 1945 as coach of
Hawthorn on a three-year deal. When injuries got the better of him during the season, he became a non-playing coach. He retired as a player at the season's end but staying on as coach in 1946. In 1947 he coached
Rupanyup in the
Wimmera Football League, then moved to Albury the following year when he coached
North Albury to win the 1948 premiership of the
Ovens and Murray Football League. In 1950 he coached
Griffith South West Football League (New South Wales), to a losing grand final. Shea was reappointed coach of North Albury for the 1951 season but died. ==Death==