Hawks veteran Shaun Burgoyne wrestling with decision on whether to join Gold Coast Suns

Some post-match beers shared between Shaun Burgoyne and Stuart Dew allowed the Suns coach to pitch his case on why the Hawk should move north. And now the veteran has a decision to make.

Shaun Burgoyne might have played his last game for the Hawks. Pic: AAP

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Hawthorn veteran Shaun Burgoyne has a “very stressful decision” to make in the coming weeks as he weighs up whether to stay in Melbourne and finish his career a Hawk or prolong his career on the Gold Coast.

Burgoyne, 37 later this year, says he’ll take the coming weeks to decide if the pull of continuing on a longer-term deal — such as the mentoring role taken on by former skipper Luke Hodge at Brisbane — outweighs uprooting his family and shifting north.

“At the moment I’ve definitely got a decision to make,” Burgoyne said.

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“I’ve got a decision to make as to whether I want to stay at Hawthorn or go to the Gold Coast ... everyone thinks I’ve decided I’m going to leave but I definitely haven’t decided.

“But over the next two or three weeks me and my family have got to decide what’s the best thing for us and the footy club and going forward.”

Speaking at the AFL Players MVP awards, Burgoyne said he’d spoken to both the Hawks and Suns about a potential move.

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Shaun Burgoyne might be heading north to the Suns. Pic: AAP

The round 22 clash with the Suns had allowed Gold Coast coach Stuart Dew a chance to try to woo the Hawks star north.

“We played against them two weeks ago for Roughy’s milestone game and ‘Dewy’ came back to the pub after the game and we had a fair few beers,” he told Fox Footy.

“We reminisced ... and we spoke about football and life and everything that’s in between as well.

“I actually got on really well with Stuey as a mate when we played, so that’s obviously really handy.

“First and foremost he’s a mate of mine before he’s a coach, so I connect on that level.”

Burgoyne, a four-time premiership star across 376 matches at Port Adelaide and the Hawks, said he still had a “burning desire to compete, to win, to teach (and) to help mentor.”

After breaking Adam Goodes’ indigenous games record this season, the lure of reaching the 400-game barrier looms, as does a transition into a coaching role.

Burgoyne at the AFL Players' Association's MVP Awards. Pic: Getty Images

The 36-year-old has showed he’s still definitely got it. Pic: Getty Images

Married with four children, Burgoyne said family would be at the centre of his decision.

“Our roots are firmly cemented here in Melbourne but we’ve also got to weigh up whether we want to leave and play somewhere else or stay here, and what’s best for us and what’s best for Hawthorn and everything in between,” he said.

“So there’s a lot to go in it, it’s not an easy decision to make by any means.

“It’s a very stressful decision I must say as well. I haven’t made up my mind ... I need to take a number of weeks to decide what’s best for us as a family.”

Originally published as Hawks veteran Shaun Burgoyne wrestling with decision on whether to join Gold Coast Suns