Port Adelaide selects Trent Burgoyne, son of former Power star Peter Burgoyne, as one of four rookie draft picks
He was something of an unknown ahead of the drafts because he’d only played a half of footy this season. But Trent Burgoyne has landed at Port Adelaide, where his dad, Peter, was a star.
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Trent Burgoyne is following in family footsteps at Port Adelaide – 15 years after being part of Power premiership celebrations at the MCG – because his hamstring issues and lack of games ultimately proved too big a gamble for other clubs.
Burgoyne – the son of ex-Port star Peter Burgoyne and nephew of current Hawthorn champion Shaun Burgoyne – was the Power’s most notable of four selections in Friday’s rookie draft.
Port claimed the Woodville-West Torrens wingman/half-forward at pick 22 after he had been overlooked in the national draft.
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It would have been considered a major surprise if he landed anywhere but the Power.
Rival AFL clubs’ recruiters considered Burgoyne a mystery prospect and risky selection because he had played just one half of football this past season due to issues with his left hamstring.
But Port Adelaide does not have a lot to lose by rookie-listing Trent.
His upside is high, as evidenced by some of his 2018 performances, the club’s medical staff have closely monitored his injury issues over the past 12 months and then there is the romance of him being the son of a gun.
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When the Henley High student played last year, including 12 under-18 games for the Eagles, he showed flashes of brilliance and shades of his dad’s talent.
He has torn that hamstring four times in about 12 months, including twice in 2019, missing the Eagles’ under-18 premiership this year and last.
Last week SANFL talent manager Brenton Phillips told The Advertiser that although Burgoyne was difficult for other clubs to judge, he was a very talented footballer.
“Speed and evasion are probably his two main assets, his ability to get through traffic and evade,” Phillips said.
“He’s got good pedigree behind him.”
Trent tested for scouts at the SA state combine at Prince Alfred College last month but held himself back a little, hoping not to re-injure his hamstring.
That day he told The Advertiser it would be a dream to come to join Port, where Peter lined up in 240 games and won the 2004 premiership, and his grandfather, Peter Sr, played SANFL.
“It’d be unbelievable,” Burgoyne said.
“I’d like to continue that legacy at the club.”
Trent said people told him he had his dad’s kicking style.
“But I’ve got him covered for pace, that’s for sure,” he said with a laugh.
Most of Trent’s memories of Peter’s career are from replays of games, including Port’s 2004 grand final win over Brisbane.
Peter gathered an equal game-high 25 disposals that day and they were on the dais together during the celebrations.
“You can see me running up on the stage and people ask me ‘do you remember it’, but not a chance,” Trent said.
“The fact I’ve been on the MCG at such a young age, not a lot of kids get to do that and I’m very privileged.”
With its other rookie picks, Port selected WA tall defender Jake Pasini (eighth selection) and reclaimed delisted youngsters Boyd Woodcock (32) and Riley Grundy (38).
In the national draft on Wednesday and Thursday, the Power claimed medium forward/wingman Miles Bergman (pick 14), rangy forward Mitch Georgiades (18), left-foot half-forward Dylan Williams and father-son midfielder Jackson Mead (25).
Originally published as Port Adelaide selects Trent Burgoyne, son of former Power star Peter Burgoyne, as one of four rookie draft picks
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