A ruckman from St Joseph's, Bourke played five senior games for Geelong.
He debuted in the opening round of the 1989 VFL season, a two-point loss to North Melbourne Football Club at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
[1] His older brother, Damian Bourke, missed the opening round of the 1989 season and didn't play at all in 1990 due to a knee injury, so the pair never got to play together.
[2][3] At the end of the 1991 season, Bourke was traded to North Melbourne, for a late draft pick.
[4] He was cut from North Melbourne's list in March 1992.