HAWTHORN utility Shaun Burgoyne will extend his AFL career into a fifteenth season after signing a one-year contract extension with the Hawks.

A silky user of the ball, the new deal will take Burgoyne’s games played tally closer to 300 after celebrating his 250^th AFL match in Round 6 this year.

After playing 157 game with Port Adelaide, where he achieved a premiership in 2004, Burgoyne has become one of the Hawks’ all-time great pick ups having won a flag last year and played off in another Grand Final in just 95 games with the Club.

Now 252-game veteran, Burgoyne is still just as excited to continue extending his career.

“I’m very happy to agree to terms and commit to Hawthorn for another year, it’s going to be my sixth year at Hawthorn so that’s pretty exciting,” he told hawthornfc.com.au

“Whenever you get over 30, people get a bit iffy on how long you can go on for but I’ve been pretty lucky so far and another year will take me to 15 years in the game.

“It has been a lot longer than I thought but it’s been a fantastic ride so far.”

At 31 years of age, it’s hard to believe that Burgoyne is still getting better but that’s the reality.

He crossed to Hawthorn as a clearance specialist with Port Adelaide but there were queries over his body, having battled knee injuries in his final season with the Power.

Now, six years into his career at his second club, Burgoyne couldn’t be playing any better.

He was a key player in the 2012 and 2013 finals series, where he provided great leadership and turned matches on their head thanks to his ability to read the play and will himself to contests.

But in 2014, if it’s possible, he has produced some of the best football of his career.

Burgoyne is averaging 25.4 disposals per game, the second-most of any Hawk this season and ranked second for clearances too.

As silky smooth as his skills are with ball in hand, he’s still working just as hard defensively, ranked second at the Club for tackles behind Paul Puopolo.

“I don’t want to use age as an excuse for my form to drop – I see it as a great challenge to keep performing even though I’m in my thirties,” he said.

“It’s been a good start to the season, I’ve been able to contribute but on that, I think I’ve been okay so I’ve been rewarded with another contract.”

Having had questions asked over his body on a number of occasions thanks to knee and ankle injuries, Burgoyne has been forced to pay closer attention to recovery and preparation for games.

That attention to detail and professionalism, however, has had a more than positive affect on his on-field performances and is the reason behind his ability to continue playing at such a high level.

“I’ve got into a pretty good routine over the last few years because I’ve accepted that I have had a few surgeries on my knees and ankles,” he said.

“I’m more in tune with my body now – if I’m not feeling right or if I am, I can push a bit harder and do more work or pull back at times.”

But what Burgoyne is enjoying most about his football at the moment, is the ability to work with the new generation of young Hawks making an impact at senior level.

Used in defence, through the midfield and at times up forward, Burgoyne’s ability to play in a variety of roles makes him the perfect role model for his young teammates.

He plays closely alongside Taylor Duryea in defence and when in the midfield, works hard with youngsters like Will Langford, Mitch Hallahan and Billy Hartung.

As much as he undoubtedly has an impact on them though, those young players have a positive impact on Burgoyne, too.

“It’s just a really exciting place to be around at the moment with all these young kids coming through, it keeps me ground and keeps me young as well I like to think,” he said.

The ultimate professional, Burgoyne says the attention to detail in attitude towards training and preparation by the senior players is setting the perfect example for its younger players.

And that’s why the depth at Hawthorn is in such a good place in the face of a mounting injury list that includes Sam Mitchell, Cyril Rioli, Brian Lake and Josh Gibson.

“As long as we senior players as role models lead the way, our younger players will find that transition into becoming a senior player a lot easier and the professionalism will just spread throughout the group,” he said.

“The depth of our list has been tested with these injuries but we’ve had a number of players just bide their time in the VFL and they’ve been playing really good footy.

“They deserve their games and they’re coming in and gaining valuable experience.

“We’ve been able to win games and bring in guys at the same time, even last year we did the same.”