Shaun Burgoyne facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Shaun Burgoyne |
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Burgoyne playing for Hawthorn in August 2018
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| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Shaun Playford Burgoyne | ||
| Nickname(s) | Silk, Burgers | ||
| Date of birth | 21 October 1982 | ||
| Place of birth | Darwin, Northern Territory | ||
| Original team | Port Adelaide (SANFL) | ||
| Draft | No. 12, 2000 national draft | ||
| Debut | Round 3, 2002, Port Adelaide v. St Kilda, at Colonial Stadium |
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| Position(s) | Utility | ||
| Career highlights | |||
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Shaun Playford Burgoyne (born 21 October 1982) is a famous former Australian rules footballer. He played for two major teams: the Port Adelaide Football Club and the Hawthorn Football Club. Both teams are part of the top-level Australian Football League (AFL).
Shaun Burgoyne made history as the first Indigenous Australian player to play 400 games in elite Australian rules football. This includes games in the VFL/AFL, SANFL, and WAFL leagues. He was also only the fifth player overall in the VFL/AFL to reach this amazing milestone. What's more, he was the first VFL/AFL player to achieve 400 games while playing for two different clubs.
He also played in a huge number of finals matches, which are the most important games of the season. Burgoyne played in 35 AFL finals. This places him among the top players for finals appearances in the VFL/AFL history.
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Shaun Burgoyne's Early Life
Shaun Burgoyne was born in Darwin, Northern Territory. His family has a rich heritage, being of Kokatha and Awarai ancestry. His father, Peter Burgoyne Snr, also played for Port Adelaide in the SANFL. Shaun's older brother, Peter Burgoyne, was also a well-known player for Port Adelaide.
Shaun grew up in Darwin before moving to Port Lincoln in South Australia. There, he played junior football for the Mallee Park Football Club. He played alongside other future AFL stars like Eddie Betts and Byron Pickett. Family is very important to Burgoyne, and he is proud of his Indigenous Australian background.
Shaun Burgoyne's AFL Career
Playing for Port Adelaide (2001–2009)
Shaun Burgoyne was chosen by Port Adelaide in the 2000 national draft. He made his first AFL appearance in 2002. He started as a forward player, scoring goals for his team. Later, he became a strong defender, helping to stop the other team from scoring.
In 2004, Burgoyne played every game of the season. He was a key part of the Port Adelaide team that won their very first AFL premiership. This was a huge moment for the club and for Shaun.
He continued to play well, especially in the midfield. In 2006, he was even selected for the All-Australian Team. This team features the best players from across the league.
In 2009, Shaun had a tough year because of a knee injury. He missed three months of games. Despite this, he came back strong at the end of the season. By the end of 2009, he was one of Port Adelaide's highest-paid players and the team's Vice-Captain.
Playing for Hawthorn (2010–2021)
After his brother retired, Shaun decided he wanted to move to a Victorian team. This was a big surprise for Port Adelaide. He was traded to the Hawthorn Football Club in 2010. At Hawthorn, he wore the number 9 jumper, which was previously worn by a club legend.
Shaun faced some injuries early in his time at Hawthorn, including a broken jaw and a hamstring injury. However, he made his debut for Hawthorn in May 2010. He then played the rest of the season, showing his skill and determination.
In 2011, Burgoyne played excellent football for Hawthorn. He showed off his great ball-handling and running skills. The team made it to the preliminary final but lost by a very small margin.
Hawthorn reached the AFL Grand Final in 2012 but lost. However, in 2013, Burgoyne played a fantastic game in the preliminary final against Geelong. He kicked three goals and helped set up others. His final goal put Hawthorn ahead late in the game, helping them win. This win also ended a long losing streak against Geelong.
On 28 September 2013, Shaun Burgoyne became a two-time Premiership player. Hawthorn defeated Fremantle in the Grand Final at the MCG. This was a huge achievement for him.
Hawthorn then won the Grand Finals in 2014 and 2015, completing a hat-trick of wins. This meant Shaun Burgoyne became an incredible four-time Premiership player!
In 2017, for a special "Indigenous Round" game, Shaun wore the number 67 on his jersey. This was to remember the 1967 referendum, which was an important moment for Indigenous Australians. He also became the captain of the Australian international rules football team in 2017.
Shaun continued to play for Hawthorn, signing new contracts in 2018 and 2019. He played his 20th season in the AFL in 2020, and announced it would be his last. He officially retired at the end of the 2021 season.
As of 2025, Shaun Burgoyne is one of the players with the most VFL/AFL games played. He ranks fourth overall. He also ranks second for most premiership games in elite Australian rules football, including his games for Port Adelaide in the SANFL.
After Playing: Media Career
After retiring from playing, Shaun Burgoyne joined Channel 7's commentary team in 2022. He worked as a boundary rider, reporting from the sidelines during games. In October 2024, it was announced that he would also join Fox Footy's commentary team.
Off-Field Leadership
Beyond his playing career, Shaun Burgoyne has become a very important leader for the Indigenous Australian sporting community. In 2011, he was one of the first members of the Indigenous Players Advisory Board. He became the Chair of this Board in 2016. This role allowed him to help and represent Indigenous players in the sport.
He was also a regular guest on The Marngrook Footy Show, a popular TV show about Australian rules football.
Personal Life
Shaun Burgoyne is married to Amy Phillips. Amy's father is Greg Phillips, a legend of the Port Adelaide Football Club. Amy's sister is Erin Phillips, a superstar in both the WNBA (basketball) and AFLW (women's Australian rules football). Shaun and Amy have four children together: Nixie, Leni, Ky, and Percy.
Honours and Achievements
Shaun Burgoyne has achieved many great things in his football career:
Team Awards
- AFL Premiership player (Port Adelaide): 2004
- 3× AFL Premiership player (Hawthorn): 2013, 2014, 2015
Individual Awards
- All-Australian team: 2006 (chosen as one of the best players in the league)
- Showdown Medal: 2005 (awarded for being the best player in a specific game)
- Hawthorn most consistent player: 2014
- 2× Australia international rules football team: 2008, 2017
- Australia international rules football team captain: 2017
- 4× Indigenous All-Stars team: 2005, 2007, 2009, 2015
- Indigenous All-Stars captain: 2015
- Polly Farmer Medal: 2015
- Dream Team Australian rules football team: 2008
- Hawthorn life member
Images for kids
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Burgoyne playing for Hawthorn in August 2018
