BIO

Brad “Shelly” Sheldrick was born in Melbourne but grew up in the south east, attending Tintinara Area School. From 1986-1988 he attended Prince Alfred College where he played in the First 18 football team. After finishing school, he was invited out to train at Norwood. Sheldrick played reserves in 1989 before making his debut for Norwood the following year.

In his debut game, Sheldrick played in the last minor round game of the season against Port Adelaide at Football Park. 22,000 people saw Sheldrick debut at Centre Half Back and watched Michael Aish kick 5 goals, but Norwood lost the game by 82 points. The following week Sheldrick played his second game in a losing Elimination Final against South Adelaide.  He injured his shoulder, but did win the Reserves Best and Fairest for that season.

In 1991, Sheldrick played another 15 league games for Norwood. In 1992, he transferred to Sturt and from 1994-1997, he reunited with his old Norwood coaches Neil Balme and Bruce Winter at the Eagles after they invited him out to play there. Whilst at the Eagles he won a Best Team Man award and played in the 1994 Grand Final versus Port Adelaide.

Sheldrick describes those first two games he played for Norwood in 1990 as being some of the best highlights of his playing career – especially playing in a team featuring names such as Aish, Jarman and McIntosh and playing at the end of the ‘pure SANFL’ – prior to the unanticipated entry of the Adelaide Crows to the AFL. In addition, he particularly points out how impactful his coaches were at Norwood (and later at the Eagles) - Bruce Winter (Norwood Reserves Coach) and Neil Balme, saying that they were the best two coaches he ever had and not just because they were great people, but because they were very supportive and knew how to get the best out of every player.

Since retiring from football, Sheldrick has worked in construction and land development whilst living in the Adelaide Hills with his family.

C. Brown, B. Sheldrick April 2026