The sporting world has been tipped back on its axis and the natural order of things has restored.

Brazil has won the World Cup. An Aussie at Wimbledon has shot his mouth off again moaning about womens tennis. And Port Adelaide is on top of the ladder.

It’s where this club belongs – just look at the trophy cabinet at Alberton if you want proof. This is a club that believes it has the title deeds to top spot and is hell bent on moving in for good this season.

And after their clinical disposal on the Western Bulldogs on Saturday, the Power is starting to look like a team with that irresistible sporting force – momentum.

And they’ve kept a few tricks up their sleeve for the second of half of the season as well. One particular showstopper goes by the name of Shaun Burgoyne. In just over a half of footy against the Dogs he created havoc, slotting six goals in Port’s 46-point win.

That’s why Shaun Burgoyne is our rising star nominee for round 13.

“It was a good day. It felt great to kick a few goals and get a decent touch of the footy.” Burgoyne said.

As it so often has been with Port – this was a family affair. Shaun’s older brother Peter got in on the act, kicking five. The brothers delivered 11 of Port’s 25 goals.

What was more satisfying for the young Port star, however, was the team’s performance.

“We saw this as a danger game coming after the bye. We were determined to go out there and play some good football.”

Shaun Burgoyne was Ports’ first choice in the 2000 AFL national draft but his first year was a tough one. Struggling with a groin injury, he was unable to make his mark and had to bide his time with the Port Magpies in the SANFL.

This year Shaun (who turns 20 in October) was determined to join older brother Peter in the Power line up.

“It’s a very tough team to break into. I played a couple of games at the start of the year. The team started to lift and I went back to the SANFL. I knew I had to work harder. Once you get your chance or you come off the bench on to the field you’ve got to give it everything you’ve got.”


“ Each player knows what they have to work on. ‘Choco’ (Mark Williams) tells all the young guys – while you’re young just play to the best of your ability, do the team things and you might get a game – and when you get your chance, make sure you grab it because not many chances come around.”

For Burgoyne his challenge was to improve his fitness and tighten up his defensive game.

“When I went back to the Magpies this year I concentrated on the hard things – tackling and chasing from behind. It’s given me another chance in the Power team and I’m trying to grab that at the moment.”

The Burgoyne boys are from Port Lincoln in South Australia, the home of Australia’s giant tuna fishing fleet. You won’t find Shaun heading out to sea on one of the big trawlers but he does enjoy dangling a line

“Port Lincoln’s famous for it’s aqua-culture. I do enjoy going down to the wharf and fishing and squiding. When I get back to Port Lincoln I go down there to just chill out.”

Over the last month or so Burgoyne has spent a lot of time watching, rather than playing football. He’s a convert to the World Game and is suffering withdrawal now that the World Cup is over.

“It was fantastic to see the players and the emotion involved in a game when a team wins or a team loses. There would be nothing better than playing for your country and winning The World Cup in front of an audience of billions.”

Power fans talk excitedly about the possibility of a Burgoyne tag team on their forward line. It could even be a trio if younger brother Philip (who is currently with Port Magpies colts team) finds a permanent home at Alberton Oval.

The prospect of that is enough to short-circuit the plans of any opposing coach who was scheming to unplug the Power.