Introduction
John Bourke is a former Australian rules footballer. He is best known for shoving an umpire during a match, resulting in a lengthy suspension.
Football career
Bourke played for the Preston Football Club in the Victorian Football Association, kicking 104 goals in his 29 games for the club. He kicked six goals in the club's 1983 premiership.
Bourke joined the Collingwood Football Club as a reserves player in 1984.
On 8 April 1985, during a VFL reserves game, Bourke kicked Sydney 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.
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.
As a result, Bourke was handed a suspension of ten years, equivalent to 240 matches. It was later reduced to six years.
Bourke kicked a total of 20 goals in his 14-game career.