[3] He was recruited from Rutherglen in 1929,[4] and played his first senior match against Richmond, at Windy Hill, on 11 May 1929: Hearn spent his early career at Essendon as a defender, mostly at half-back.
Footscray's Alby Morrison and Essendon's Hearn were both reported after the 5 May 1934 match between Essendon and Footscray, at Windy Hill for "unseemly conduct": Morrison was charged with striking Hearn, and Hearn was charged with striking Morrison in retaliation.
[7] At its hearing on 10 May 1934, with Hearn having pleaded guilty to striking in retaliation, the Tribunal declared both players guilty: and having determined that Morrison was "the aggressor", disqualified Morrison for six weeks, and Hearn for four.
[8] Hearn was selected to play for the VFL in a representative match against the Victorian Football Association on 16 June 1934; however, he did not play, having injured his hand at training on the Tuesday preceding the match.
Trained by Jack King,[11] he won the Stawell Gift in 1929, running off a handicap of 10½ yards.