Hawthorn star Shaun Burgoyne opens up on the huge rivalry between the Hawks and Geelong
IF it wasn’t for some Shaun Burgoyne magic against Geelong five years ago, the modern history of the Hawthorn Football Club might look very different, starting with the Kennett Curse.
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IF it wasn’t for some Shaun Burgoyne magic against Geelong five years ago next month, the modern history of the Hawthorn Football Club might look very different.
The Kennett curse was still active at the time, and the Cats had surged to a 20-point three-quarter-time lead in the 2013 preliminary final.
It looked like more Hawthorn heartache at the hands of Geelong.
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Enter Burgoyne — silk personified — and he turned on an extraordinary final term to help his team win by five points — to break the curse and advance to the Grand Final.
Without it, and some associated Sam Mitchell genius, the Hawks wouldn’t have got over the line that night, and who knows how it otherwise may have changed the course of AFL history.
The next week Hawthorn won the first of three successive premierships, which wouldn’t have happened without the exorcism of those Geelong demons, partly fuelled by one of Burgoyne’s most complete performances.
“I’ve won a few games against Geelong, and lost a few games,” Burgoyne said this week about the ongoing rivalry he has had with Geelong. “I had it first with Port Adelaide, and I’ve had it for a number of years now with Hawthorn.
“That (the 2013 preliminary final) was a really good game. The losing streak was talked about … they seemed to get us every time for a long period, but that only added to the legend (of the rivalry).”
Burgoyne, 35, has played more games against the Cats than any other opponent — 29 times from his 353 games. A contest with the Cats is something that still stirs him as much now as it did when he was a kid playing with Port Adelaide.
The next instalment takes place at the MCG on Saturday when Hawthorn and Geelong meet in the most anticipated match of the round, with a likely finals position on the line for both sides.
“That rivalry has been there between the two clubs since the 1980s, and coming across to Hawthorn, you learn all about it,” Burgoyne said. “These two teams do it every year, it doesn’t matter where either of us is on the ladder; it’s always a great game.
“Anytime we play, it is like a mini-final. They are brutal contests as well and I enjoy playing those games. It’s a rivalry that just builds from year to year, and this week won’t be any different as both teams are trying to qualify for finals.”
The lowest point for Burgoyne came in 2007, when he was a member of Port Adelaide’s side that lost to Geelong by 119 points in the Grand Final. “That was a major smashing,” he says. “Geelong obviously love talking about that day.
“It wasn’t too good for me, but you win some and lose some.”
While that 2007 margin was the biggest Grand Final loss in history, Burgoyne has played in so many close contests with the Cats when playing with Port Adelaide and Hawthorn.
Nine of his games against Geelong have been decided by a goal or under.
Burgoyne, who this week signed a new deal to play on in 2019, says playing in the big games keeps him energised.
“Growing up as a kid, all you wanted to do was to have success, and play in the big games,” he said. “That’s all you ever did playing in the backyard with your brothers, you are commentating yourself playing in the Grand Final or in finals footy with your teammates.”
He has played finals in all but four seasons and is desperate to taste September action after missing out last season.
“It was unusual,” Burgoyne said of 2017. “It was interesting to sit back and watch the finals … knowing you can be a part of it again just gets the fire burning again. You just want to get back there.”
He said the Hawks have faced various challenges this season, but have still kept themselves in the mix for the finals.
“This year we’ve been able to win some games and yet still blood some younger players to provide some excitement,” he said. “We’ve got young (James) Worpel at the moment, who is a first-year player. Harry Morrison is 19, and we’ve still had some kids coming through.
“Luke Breust and Tommy Mitchell have had really good seasons. It’s been a transition over the last couple of years, but it’s an exciting time for the club.”
The four-time premiership player — one with Port Adelaide (2004) and three times with Hawthorn (2013-15) — isn’t sated by the success he has already achieved. He desperately wants more, something he isn’t ashamed of expressing.
“I just want to have more success with Hawthorn, and do my best from week to week,” he said. “It is all about team success and making mates for life. Those are the things that drive me, seeing young player strive to become better and to chase success.”
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