BIO

William "Bill" Hearn was a very quick rover with good ground skills. He played predominantly as a forward pocket/ rover, and occasionally as a half-forward. In July 1935 after good form for the Norwood reserves he was added to the league team's training list .

Hearn made his league debut in round 12, 1935 when he was named as a reserve and as a rover resting in the forward pocket in the game against Sturt. His second, and final league appearance, was two weeks later in round 13.

In 1936 Hearn fractured a bone in his foot in a pre-season internal trial and was not available until early June.

He played in Norwood's winning reserves semi-final against Glenelg, named as second rover, resting in the forward pocket. The following week he was selected with the same role; Norwood losing the preliminary final against West Torrens by one point.

In October 1936 he travelled with the Norwood reserves to play the Peterborough Association in the town's centenary week.

He was also named in the Norwood squad that beat Port Adelaide in the 1937 reserves Grand Final.

 
Another footballer with a similar name, Walter Joseph (Wally) Hearn, played 37 league games for South Adelaide from 1945-1948. Educated at Rostrevor/Christian Brothers College, he was an exceptional sportsman and represented the school in athletics, cricket, football and tennis. He was captain of the athletics, cricket and tennis teams and in 1939 was awarded the Gosse Medal for the best and fairest player in the student's grade football competition.

Walter Hearn was a centre half-forward, also capable of playing as a ruckman resting in the forward lines. In 1945, having spent some time in amateur league football, he joined South Adelaide after receiving a clearance from Sturt. 

One of his sons, Walter Thomas J (Wally) Hearn, played four league games for Norwood (1967-1968), before transferring to South Adelaide where he played 13 games in 1971.

R Cialini July 2023