Past Bill Lokan (1983-1988)

Remove this Banner Ad

Grimreepah

Grimreepah

BigFooty One Armed Man
Veteran 30k Posts 10k Posts Brisbane Lions - 2013 Elliot Yeo Player Sponsor Brisbane Lions - 2013 Daniel Rich Player Sponsor Brisbane Lions - Patrick Karnezis 2012 Player Sponsor Brisbane Lions - Tom Rockliff 2011 Player Sponsor
Mar 1, 2006
40,827
2,645
Melbourne
AFL Club
Brisbane Lions
Pick 7 in the 1982 Interstate Draft

IMG_1023_%28360x480%29.jpg
 
Recruited in 1983 from North Adelaide, Bill Lokan played 87 games at Fitzroy, slotting beautifully into one of the strongest midfields in the V.F.L. His career was ended prematurely by injury, but not before he made a lasting impression on Fitzroy supporters.

Playing alongside champions like Wilson, Quinlan, Rendell, Conlan, Roos and Pert, Lokan made an immediate impact on the fortunes of the team. He was a hard running midfielder, with penetrating foot skills. Watch any highlights tape from this period and you will see Lokan streaming through the centre and delivering the ball with pinpoint accuracy to one of our forwards.

Of all the games that I saw Lokan play, arguably his greatest at Fitzroy was the 1986 1st Semi Final against Sydney, where he helped lead the stirring fightback that saw Fitzroy finish all over Sydney to snatch a desperate and hard fought 5 point victory. On a wet day at the MCG, he was best on ground, with a team high 26 possessions and one goal, playing against the likes of Greg Williams and Gerard Healy.

http://www.fullpointsfooty.net/fitzroy's_last_hurrah.htm

It is also good to know that Bill Lokan is a Brisbane Lions supporter.

http://www.nafc.com.au/history/reminisces/p2673.aspx

http://www.fitzroyfc.com.au/2011FFCMembershipform.pdf
 

Log in to remove this ad.

i would regard lokan as one of those quiet achievers, slipped under the radar most times, but on most occasions made a significant contribution to the success of the team and the ouitcome of games.

i was surprised he played so few games.

keep these coming KZ they make for very interesting reading, and bring back a flood of memories
 
During his career Lokan was surrounded by some stellar footballers and as a result he did tend to fly under the radar in terms of the broader football public. He also tended to be a bit of an accumulator as far as possessions went, playing consistently throughout games, rather than having game changing bursts that would catch the eye. In that respect he was a little like Scott Clayton, particularly as Lokan would often be given a tagging midfield role.

That said, Fitzroy supporters knew his value to the team and any opposition sides that underestimated Lokan were often made to pay. The Fitzroy cheer squad quickly caught on and there was a hand painted LOKAN sign that bobbed up early in his career, which appears prominently in much of the footage I have seen, particularly during the 1986 season. It might surprise people to know that while his career was much shorter, Lokan actually polled as many Brownlow votes as Michael Conlan and Leon Harris and even then, I would agrue his 16 votes don't tell the complete story.

http://stats.rleague.com/afl/brownlow/brownlow/fitzroy_totals.html
 
Billy Lokan was a quiet achiever of an integral part of a very unheraleded midfield through that era. Others included Scott Clayton, Ross Lyon, Tim Pekin and a bit later, Matty Armstrong, Paul Broderick and Darren Kappler.

A lot of those midfielders went barely unnoticed by the footy community and media in general, but us Roy supporters knew exactly how good they were.

Well done 3KZ:thumbsu:
 
Billy Lokan was my favourite player as a kid. My first ever Roys jumper I wore had #16 on the back for him.
 
Billy Lokan goaling from the centre of the Junction oval.

That's the first of a series of great goals from the likes of Quinlan, Conlan and Lyon.


[YOUTUBE]CSzDYoBl5Y4&feature=related[/YOUTUBE]
 
Bill was my Grade 6 teacher at St Kevins, my first year at the school and his as well straight over from Adelaide and doing his 1st pre-season at Fitzroy. First question to the class (this is 28 years ago but remember as if yesterday) was to go through who all the lads in the class barracked for. I was the ONLY Fitzroy supporter (as my old man played for them in the early 70's) and Bill didnt say anything until everyone had outlined who their teams were. At the end of it he outlined who he was playing for.....he was therefore my hero for a number of years following . Bumped into him at the BL/Fitzroy player reunion a couple of years ago and got to spend some time and have a beer with him. Absolute cracker of a bloke !! and a bloody good player too, very very underated by all bar FFC supporters
 

Remove this Banner Ad

Past Bill Lokan (1983-1988)

Remove this Banner Ad

Back
Top