Classy midfielder calls time on AFL careerPORT Adelaide premiership player Peter Burgoyne will end his illustrious AFL career on Saturday after revealing his desire top-level footy has disappeared.
The Port veteran (pictured) will play his 240th and final AFL match in Saturday night's clash with North Melbourne at AAMI Stadium.
The 33-year-old Burgoyne played 14 AFL games this year and had averaged almost 25 possessions but he said the passion to play is no longer there. He in fact tried to talk his coach into it earlier in the season.
"I just haven't got it anymore. I haven't got the passion in my heart and the hunger and I've been this way now for a long time," an emotional Burgoyne said at a media conference yesterday. "I spoke to (coach) Mark (Williams) probably seven weeks ago and he talked me out of retirement, but I went back into him last week and said, 'I just can't go on anymore'. I've been playing league footy since I was 16 or 17; it's a long time and it can't go on forever."
Burgoyne, named in the AFL's Indigenous Team of the Century, said he had given retirement some thought during the pre-season in recovery from ankle and shoulder surgery. He said the thoughts intensified after Port's mid-season game in Darwin.
"Over the first six weeks of the season I thought I played some pretty good footy, but then I just couldn't do it anymore," he said. "I pretty much knew back then that it was all over. We played up in Darwin after the break and I thought I couldn't play to the standard that I like to play at."
Burgoyne, one of two remaining original Port Adelaide squad members when the club was admitted to the AFL in 1997, finished third in Port's best-and-fairest twice, was the club's best finals player in 2007, represented South Australia in State of Origin, Australia in International Rules and his people with the Indigenous All-Stars. He played in both of Port Adelaide's Grand Finals, in 2004, where he was one of its best players, and in 2007 against Geelong.
Williams said Burgoyne was one of the top five players in the club's proud history.
"Peter had been one of the best players that our club had ever had and a consistent player too," Williams said. "He'd never had a downturn in form so I said, 'Bad luck, Pete. Just cop it like the rest of the mortals around the place that have to deal week after week with up and down form'. He kind of understood that and wanted to give it another go. He played a couple of good games when he came back as well."
Burgoyne said he'd like to be remembered for performing on the big stage.
"I'd like to be remembered as a player that had a crack on the big stage and someone who loved playing on the big stage," he said. "I prided myself on playing in those big games, like finals and especially in the Showdowns."
DARREN MONCRIEFF
Darren@AboriginalFootball.com.au
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Last Modified on 26/08/2009 14:58