Bill Lokan
TB- What are you doing with yourself these days?
BL- I'm teaching year 7 at St. Josephs School (Clare); they are a wonderful class. I also run a farm at Auburn and am married to Sally with two beautiful children, Tom and Lucy.
TB- Where did you grow up and play your junior footy?
BL- I grew up in Vale Park and played all my junior footy at Walkerville as did David Wildy!
TB- Did you barrack for North Adelaide as a kid?
BL- I didn't just barrack for them, I worshipped them!
TB- Did you have any sporting heroes while growing up?
BL- Yes, definitely - Barrie Robran and all the other Roosters from that era, plus Rod Laver and John Newcombe.
TB- How did you come to play for North Adelaide?
BL- I was invited to the club by John Sargent after playing in the A1 Amateurs at Walkerville when I was 17.
TB- You certainly made an immediate impact at North in your first year (1978) playing the first 9 games in the U/19's finishing runner up in the Tomkins medal and were then promoted to the Reserves playing 13 games and winning the Best and Fairest, quite an achievement for an 18 year old!
BL- I really enjoyed that first year being around great coaches such as Bill Carroll and Bugs (Bohdan Jaworskyj), plus Barrie was coaching the league side at the time.
TB- You made your league debut in 1979, do you remember your first league game?
BL- Yes, I certainly do, it was against Torrens at Footy Park. I was completely overawed but it was a great thrill to play with some of my heroes especially Barrie! I also remember having a warm up kick with my Dad in the Parklands.
( Bill made his debut on 5/8/79, North Adelaide 12.13 defeated West Torrens 7.17)
TB- All up you played 51 games and kicked 47 goals for the Roosters, do you have fond memories of your time at North Adelaide?
BL- Yes I do, it was a privilege to play for the club that I was so passionate about and it will always be an important part of my life.
TB- You left North Adelaide in 1983 to play for Fitzroy in the VFL, how did that eventuate?
BL- I was lucky enough to be courted by several VFL clubs but eventually settled on Fitzroy after meeting with Robert Walls and thinking I would get an opportunity to play alongside some of the stars in the competition such as Bernie Quinlan and Garry Wilson.
TB- You played 20 games for Fitzroy in your first year; you must have adapted quickly to playing in the VFL?
BL- We had a great side, brilliantly coached which made things a lot easier as I was missing Adelaide.
TB- Actually Fitzroy under coach Robert Walls had a fantastic year in 1983 finishing third at the end of the Minor Round and were unlucky in losing the Qualifying Final to eventual Premier Hawthorn by 4 points, then losing to Grand Finalist Essendon in the First Semi Final by 23 points. A case of so close but yet so far...?
BL- Yes... that's the nature of footy and sometimes things don't quite go your way, in fact in the game against Hawthorn we were penalised for deliberate out of bounds with only a few seconds to go. A rushed point would have won it for us!
TB- A lot of people may be surprised to know that in 1983 Fitzroy had the fifth highest membership in the VFL, the Lions supporters must have really got behind the team in those days?
BL- Loyal, passionate supporters!
TB- Was it a good social atmosphere at Fitzroy?
BL- There was a wonderful feeling that the whole club needed to stick together in order to survive in a competition that was definitely not a level playing field!
TB- Fitzroy has a proud history having produced such legends as Haydn Bunton Snr, Chicken Smallhorn, Kevin Murray and Bernie Quinlan to name a few. Did you sense their proud heritage during your time there?
BL- Yes, Kevin Murray in particular was often at games and knew all the players personally.
TB- You played alongside some true champions such as Bernie Quinlan, Paul Roos, Mick Conlan and Garry Wilson, it must have been a big thrill to play in the same team as these guys.
BL- It was and I always considered myself to be a footy fan so it was a dream to play with and against some of the games greats!
TB- What did you do job wise during your time in Melbourne?
BL- I taught at St. Kevin's College in Toorak and for a time I just played footy. What a life!
TB- Who would you rate as some of your toughest opponents both at SANFL and VFL level?
BL- I would probably rate players such as Geoff Raines, Merv Neagle, Doug Hawkins and Michael Aish as difficult to play on but to be honest I found all of my opponents difficult.
TB- Do you still keep in contact with any old team mates from North Adelaide and Fitzroy?
BL- I do, but not regularly enough!
TB- You retired from Fitzroy in 1988 after playing 87 games and kicking 40 goals. You were only 28, why did you finish at such a young age?
BL- I had some injury problems but I guess I lost the real passion which was needed to play the game at that level.
TB- Did you ever consider coming back to finish your playing days at North Adelaide?
BL- Would have been nice but I needed a break from footy....
TB- Do you realise you are the 133rd ranked player at Fitzroy for both all time games and all time goals?
Quite an unusual statistic really!
BL- Very unusual!
TB- As an old Fitzroy boy do you follow the Brisbane Lions?
BL- Yes, I have some friends on the Board.
TB- Do you enjoy the way footy is played at AFL level these days?
BL- Yes, their skill and fitness is incredible!
TB- You coached South Clare in 2008, do you have any aspirations to coach at a higher level?
BL- No, the commitment and time away from family would be too demanding.
TB- Do you keep any eye on how the Roosters are going and do you get to the occasional game?
BL- Yes I do, in fact Barrie Robran invited Sally and me along with Dennis Sachse to a game earlier this year as guests of the pre-game Presidents lunch.
TB- Thanks for your time Bill, up the Mighty Roosters!
BL- Cheers!