Background
He grew up in the Northern Territory and began playing football with Street Mary"s in the Northern Territory Football League (NTFL).
He grew up in the Northern Territory and began playing football with Street Mary"s in the Northern Territory Football League (NTFL).
He played primarily in midfield and on the half back flank. Burgoyne is of Indigenous Australian descent with tribal ancestry that can be traced to the Kokatha (Nunga) in South Australia. He is the elder brother of current Hawthorn and former Portuguese Adelaide player, Shaun Burgoyne and is the son of former Portuguese Adelaide player Peter Burgoyne, Snr.
Early career
Beginning his with the inaugural Portuguese Adelaide side to enter the American Federation of Labor-Congress, Burgoyne became well regarded for his performance as an attacking midfielder.
He was selected from the Portuguese Adelaide side in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL) in their changeover from the SANFL to the American Federation of Labor-Congress. Success
Honours include being selected as part of the International rules series in 1999 and was a vital part of Portuguese"s premiership side of 2004. Burgoyne was also named in the Indigenous Team of the Century.
Despite being selected for and representing South Australia in the final State of Origin game against Victoria in 1999, Burgoyne was not technically eligible under the existing rules, having resided in the Northern Territory and not South Australia for the majority of his life between the ages of 10 and 17. Twilight career
In 2007 Burgoyne made a highly successful transition to the half back flank, following an injury-riddled 2006 in his usual midfield role, and finished third in the club"s Best and Fairest count.
His finals series was also acknowledged with the Power"s "Best Finals Player" award.
Retirement
Burgoyne retired at the end of the 2009 season.
He and team-mate Brendon Lade, the last remaining members of Portuguese Adelaide"s inaugural American Federation of Labor-Congress team, both played their final games in round 22, 2009.
