Shielding is VERY effective with throwing, most throwers though are gimmick alts where someone just wants to login and pew pew spam as many projectiles as possible so don't want to take up a slot with a shield. If you want a well rounded hybrid thrower shielding is very viable, heavy throwing axes are a very nice melee weapon (36cut on +3, hits like a 2h sword), and when you are throwing at someone and they close in on you, they think they've caught you for some free hits, but you start slashing their face at close range has gotten me a lot of kills. Throwing lances are also a very good melee weapon. Jarids/spears not so much... If you want a real melee weapon, 6 throwing axes is still more than enough to bring down 2-3 people or horses, and by the time you've used those up there should be a lot on ground to scavange. It makes a good combo with a 1h sword or pick + throwing axes, you can bust them out to fight other shields as a shield breaker weapon.
Check out the link in my signature we have 24-12 and 21-15 shielder/thrower hybrid builds.