John Bourke (Australian footballer)

John Bourke is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the Collingwood Football Club as a reserves player in the mid-1980s. He is best known for shoving an umpire during a match, resulting in a lengthy suspension.[1]

John Bourke
Personal information
Position(s) Forward
Playing career
Years Club Games (Goals)
1984–1985 Collingwood reserves 14 (20)
Source: [1]

Career

On 8 April 1985, during a VFL Reserves game, Bourke kicked Sydney Swans ruckman Pat Foy in the groin in response to Foy tagging him throughout the game. When umpire Phil Waight attempted to report Bourke for the incident, Bourke shoved him to the ground and kicked him, and also made contact with a Collingwood runner who was attempting to take him off the ground before running into the stands to attack a Swans fan.[2]

The match was being broadcast on the Seven Network, with commentator Ray Jordon crying "You've gotta take the boy off!" as the incident unfolded.[3]

As a result, Bourke was handed a suspension of ten years, equivalent to 240 matches.[4] It was later reduced to six years.[5]

Bourke kicked a total of 20 goals in his 14-game career.[1]

References
  1. "Reserves/VFL Players A-D". Collingwood Forever.
  2. Amy, Paul. "John Bourke could have been a Collingwood great but for the terrible price of one infamous act". Code Sports.
  3. "Quiz: How did the Cat beat the rap?". AFL.com.au.
  4. "10 of the AFL's most famous suspensions". ZeroHanger.
  5. Levy, Megan. "Punched, kneed in face, umpire says teen's 10-year ban not enough". The Age.
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