Bourke started his career in the forwardline, topping Melbourne's goalkicking with 48 goals in his debut season. Most of his subsequent games were spent in defence with the occasional stints up forward. He was a premiership player with Melbourne in 1964 and was a regular Victorian representative at interstate football.
Victoria (VFL) 26.24 (180) defeated Tasmania 11.13 (79), at North Hobart Oval, 9 June 1966, crowd: 20,047 Victoria (VFL) 16.23 (119) defeated South Australia 7.9 (51), at North Hobart Oval, 11 June 1966, crowd: 23,764 Victoria (VFL) 14.17 (101) defeated Victoria (VFA) 9.7 (61), at North Hobart Oval, 13 June 1966, crowd: 13,969 Victoria (VFL) 15.10 (100) defeated Western Australia 13.7 (85), at North Hobart Oval, 18 June 1966, crowd: 23,368
