FOOTBALL has always been about spending time with mates for Shaun Burgoyne, not much has changed from the schoolyard to becoming one of the game’s elite players.

His love and taste for footy began at a young age, playing footy at recess and lunchtime at school like most young boys (and girls).

Burgoyne was never into the individual sports like tennis or golf, for him, sport has always been about having a good time while sharing your love for the game with friends and family.

That’s how he first became involved in football.

“I remember hanging around with my mates and my cousins, playing footy at recess and lunch time at school and then going to footy training after school,” he told hawthornfc.com.au

“I’d kick the ball with my brother in the dark in the backyard and break things that we weren’t supposed to break.

“I didn’t really like the individual sports like tennis or golf, I always wanted to be with my mates so footy was a great way to just hang out.”

Now, Burgoyne is one of the game’s elite players.

He has won two premierships, one with Hawthorn and one with Port Adelaide, been named All Australian and has become a role model for young Indigenous kids who aspire to be just like him.

On his way to becoming one of the league’s most respected players for his on-field performances and off-field professionalism, the Hawthorn star had his own heroes as a youngster.

There have been many Indigneous players who have made a profound contribution and impact on the AFL – Nicky Winmar, Michael Long and Gavin Wanganeen to name a few.

But, while Burgoyne looked up to those players and Long and Wanganeen in particular, it was a hero closer to home that had the biggest impact on his career.

Burgoyne played in a premiership with Wanganeen in 2004 as a Power player but he also shared that day with his brother, Peter.

Peter Burgoyne was a champion premiership player for Port Adelaide, playing 240 games for the club between 1997 and 2009.

Shaun was lucky enough to turn his brother into a teammate and spend seven years playing with him at the Power.

It was there that Shaun learned the ropes; the attitude, professionalism and hard-work required to make it in the AFL.

“I lived with my brother for the first couple of years after being drafted and that made my transition into AFL football a lot easier,” Burgoyne said.

“He knew the right path and the right way to go about things so I was pretty lucky in that sense.”

Not only did Burgoyne learn the skills he needed to forge a successful AFL career but also the importance of having a mentor, someone to show you how to make the transition into league football.

So now, at 31 and as one of Hawthorn’s most experienced players, Burgoyne makes it a priority to take the Hawks’ youngsters, including the Indigenous players under his wing.

“If I can do something with those younger guys to help them with their transition or help make their job to play AFL football a lot easier then I will,” he said.

“I have a pretty good bond with those younger guys, I get them over for tea every now and then.

“Some of those guys have moved away from home so if I can get them over and have them around my wife and kids, to get them around that family vibe and atmosphere, I will.”

Burgoyne will play his 254^th career game on Sunday in the AFL’s Indigenous Round where he and his Hawthorn teammates, for the first time ever, will wear an Indigenous guernsey.

He can’t wait to pull on the guernsey that pays tribute to his culture, to his traditions and his values.

“It’ll be a special moment because all the boys had a say in the guernsey, what we wanted to see in the guernsey and how we wanted it to take shape,” he said.

“It’s something everyone is going to be pretty proud of.

“To also see my teammates wearing the guernsey will be something special.”