Ian ‘Bluey’ Shelton has been inducted into the Bombers’ Hall of Fame, receiving the prestigious honour at the 2019 Crichton Medal on Tuesday night.

The Bombers great played as a centre half-back for 91 games in his six seasons with Essendon between 1959 and 1965, winning two premierships (1962 and 1965) during his established career.

In addition to his two premierships in the red and black, Shelton was named Best First-Year Player (1959), claimed the Outstanding Services Award for the Bombers (1962) and was appointed Essendon vice-captain in 1965.

He was awarded life membership of the Essendon Football Club in 2005.

Essendon president Lindsay Tanner praised Shelton for his outstanding contribution to the Bombers.

“On behalf of the Essendon family, I congratulate Bluey on his elevation into the club’s Hall of Fame,” Tanner said.

“As an Essendon supporter growing up, I found Bluey inspiring to watch, serving the game with the highest integrity. From his strength and courage in the contest to his ability to kick with his left and right boot, Bluey was idolised by many.

“It gives me great pleasure to see Bluey inducted as a member of the club’s prestigious Hall of Fame.”

Hailing from Avenel in country Victoria, Shelton sparked the interest of local VFL recruiters while playing senior football for Avenel.

A handful of Victorian clubs expressed interest in the country boy, but Shelton made the decision to begin his AFL journey at Essendon, wanting to play alongside Bombers greats Ken Fraser and Ron Evans.

He had to overcome early permit and injury problems in his first year in 1959, but his tough and ruthless play soon made him an idol among the Essendon faithful.

After five years in the system, he missed the 1964 season because of a serious eye injury suffered at the family farm, which led to fears he would lose his sight.

But he made a miraculous recovery to become a major part of the 1965 premiership side as the Bombers’ vice-captain.

Retiring from the VFL at 25, Shelton took up a captain-coach role at Seymour before ending his football career with Avenel, where it all began. 

Bombers legend Kevin Sheedy said Shelton had a great influence on his own esteemed career.

“Bluey is the main reason I grew up supporting Essendon. He is an incredibly inspirational player and even though he had a short career, his impact was profound,” Sheedy said.

“I wore the number 10 because of him and I never changed my number. When I moved into a coaching role, I always gave players that I thought would be very good players the number 10.

“To me, Bluey was the one person that Essendon needed to protect its wonderfully skilled team.”

Ian 'Bluey' Shelton's achievements:

  • 1959: Essendon Football Club — Best First-Year Player
  • 1962: Essendon Football Club — Outstanding Services Award
  • 1965: Essendon VFL vice-captain
  • 1997: Essendon Football Club — One of Essendon's ‘Top 60 Players’ (of a total of 1,001 potential candidates) from which the 25 members of the Essendon Team of the Century were chosen
  • 2005: Essendon Football Club — Life membership
  • 2012: Seymour Football Club — Centre half-ack in the Seymour Team of the Century
  • 2012: Seymour Football Club — Coach of the Seymour Team of the Century
  • 2016: Essendon Football Club — Centre half-back in the Essendon Team of the Century