Shaun Burgoyne played a remarkable 20 seasons in the AFL. He is the Indigenous games record holder and played 407 games, becoming only the fifth man to reach the 400-game milestone. After being taken at number 12 in the 2000 national draft, he played 157 games for Port Adelaide between 2002 and 2009, winning his first premiership in 2004. Hawthorn took a punt on Burgoyne, who had knee troubles, and the trade paid off for both club and player with premierships in 2013, 2014 and 2015. In 2011, Burgoyne was an inaugural member of the AFL Players' Association Indigenous Advisory Board, taking on the role of chairman in 2016. He is a director of ACS Indigenous, a cleaning services company that aims to create employment and career opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians.

Burgoyne lives in Melbourne and is married to Amy, his childhood sweetheart. They have four children: Ky, Percy, Leni and Nixie.