A midfielder, he had a second stint at WAFL club Subiaco in 1984, having briefly played there in 1979. In the year of the premiership he was also listed at the West Coast Eagles but played just once, in a loss to St Kilda at Moorabbin Oval where he had six kicks and two handballs. The following year he returned to the country and joined Kalgoorlie City as playing coach.
Early in his career, O'Loughlin was a highly successful player in the Goldfields National Football League where he played for Boulder City and won back to back Mitchell Medals in 1982 and 1983. O'Loughlin won Kalgoorlie's 'Fairest and Best' award on three occasions in his four seasons as coach. He also won two Fyson Medals in 1988, to go with the one he took home while at Boulder City in 1982.
He appeared in three successive grand finals from 1985 to 1987 and was a member of Subiaco's 1987 premiership team.
