Bourke is the patriarch of a famous dynasty in Tigerland history - father of Club ‘Immortal’, five-time premiership hero and 300-gamer, Francis Bourke, and grandfather of David Bourke, who played 85 games with the Tigers from 1995-01.
He was no slouch himself on the football field, having a highly promising career at Richmond in the 1940s, which was cut short because of a serious knee injury.
A 193cm, 85.5kg full-forward, Bourke was recruited from Victorian country town Nathalia and made his senior league debut for the Tigers in Round 15 of the 1943 season, against Melbourne at Punt Road.
He booted two goals in a Tiger victory.
That was to be Bourke’s last game until 1946 due to him serving Australia overseas (in England) in the Second World War.
It was the opening round of the ’46 season when a then 24-year-old Bourke made his league football comeback. He lined up at full-forward against Fitzroy at Brunswick Oval and was a key factor for Richmond in a thrilling four-point win, kicking five goals.
Bourke averaged around five goals a game in the opening eight rounds of that year and was seemingly on target to become just the second Richmond player to score 100 goals in a season. But in the Round 9 clash with South Melbourne, Bourke flew high for a mark and badly damaged his knee in the process.
He did return after a lengthy stint on the sidelines, but was never the same player, being severely restricted in his movements, and he was subsequently forced into premature retirement.
Those who saw Bourke senior play, speak in glowing terms of his sensational ability and wonder what might have been had he not sustained a career-ending injury.
Tigerland extends its deepest sympathy to Frank’s family and friends.
blog comments powered by Disqus
