Shaun Burgoyne will become the fifth AFL player to play 400 games and has been lauded by the other members of the club

Only five men have ever played 400 AFL games and four of them have revealed just what makes the newest member of the club tick.

The 400 Club. Shaun Burgoyne joins Kevin Bartlett, Michael Tuck, Brent Harvey and Dustin Fletcher . Pic: Michael Klein

Shaun Burgoyne’s composure under pressure is no secret.

Famed for his silky style of play, the four-time premiership star’s calmness in big moments has long been a trademark of his game.

But according to the league’s games record holder, a lesser-known component to Hawthorn star Burgoyne’s repertoire has been key to his longevity.

“He looks like a nice guy, he is a nice guy, but he’s got that little competitive edge to him,” said Brent Harvey, the last payer to join the 400-club before Burgoyne after 432 games for North Melbourne.

“It’s that white line fever that not a lot of people have. To be in the system for so long, you have to have that. If you haven’t got that you don’t last. To last for so long, you’ve got to be a pretty good competitor.”

It’s a sentiment echoed by two-time Essendon premiership player Dustin Fletcher, who entered the coveted 400-game club in 2015.

“He’s still got that bit of competitiveness,” Fletcher said.

“He must be pretty mentally strong, and his pure skill, he must love the sport.”

Burgoyne’s illustrious career is midway through its 20th season, and the 400 club’s other members say a love for the game is an equally important ingredient to a long and successful career.

“I think Shaun, like most people who play for a long, long time, you love playing,” said 403-game Richmond champion, Kevin Bartlett.

“It’s part of your life, and it’s something that you enjoy enormously and appreciate, and therefore you want to play for as long as you possibly can.”

This is beautiful. Congrats to Shaun Burgoyne 400 Games👏😀 https://t.co/NTZdHcASgm

— Diana Woolley (@DiWoolley1) July 1, 2021

Burgoyne is also the first Indigenous player to reach the 400-game milestone.

“You can just imagine what an inspiration he is to young Indigenous players coming through,” Bartlett said.

Michael Tuck, who held the games record until it was broken by Harvey in 2016, agreed that an emotional connection to the game was key to perpetuity.

“I really loved football, and I just loved playing it,” said Tuck.

“(Burgoyne) is a very good footballer for a start and secondly, he’s not a bad bloke, so that works in your favour and makes it more enjoyable.”

Tuck still holds the record for most finals played with 39, but Burgoyne is a close second, featuring on 35 occasions.

Between them, they have won 11 premierships and 10 at Hawthorn, with Burgoyne’s 2004 flag at Port Adelaide the outlier.

Tuck has marvelled at Burgoyne’s trademark silk over the 38-year-old’s 20-year long career.

“The way he’s smooth, runs around and baulks people and things like that, he’s just got that natural ability,” Tuck said.

Would be nice if everyone at the Hawks Vs Port game could do a 1 min where we stand and applaud the legend Shaun Burgoyne

During the 1st quarter at the 9 min mark??#AFLHawksPort

— Naim (@goldandbrown4) July 2, 2021

Bartlett, also a former commentator, fondly remembers calling a precociously talented Burgoyne when he burst onto the AFL scene in 2002, and says he proved doubters wrong after crossing to Hawthorn seven years later with a nagging knee injury.

“He was a marvellous player then, playing mainly as an onballer,” Bartlett recalled.

“His ability to use the ball so well, be good under pressure but make cool decisions, I think that’s been one of the hallmarks of his career so far.

“When he first came to Hawthorn, people suggested that he had chronic knees and maybe only had two years left in his career, but he’s proven everyone wrong.

“He can play forward, back and on-ball. He’s been one of those players that’s been a ‘Mr Fix-It’ for Hawthorn over the years, and it’s been an absolutely amazing career.”

This is an amazing stat about an amazing career, via @theagesport. Shaun Burgoyne has shared an AFL field with two thirds of the current senior coaches. #Silk400pic.twitter.com/a6Lg9z4Fgf

— Mitchell Adam (@DrMitchellAdam) July 1, 2021

Fletcher shares the same deep admiration for Burgoyne’s ability to play almost any position on the ground, and praised his achievements away from the field, too.

“I don’t think he matched on him a heap, but watching him from afar or on the ground, he’s someone that can play tall, small, forward, back, or on the ball,” Fletcher said.

“The premierships he’s won, what he’s done outside of footy for the community, it’s a pretty impressive effort.”

Originally published as Shaun Burgoyne will become the fifth AFL player to play 400 games and has been lauded by the other members of the club