SHAUN Burgoyne will play his 100^th game for Hawthorn in Saturday’s blockbuster against Collingwood at the MCG.

A distinguished midfielder with Port Adelaide, Burgoyne has enjoyed much success since joining Hawthorn at the end of the 2009 season, following 157 matches with the Power between 2002-2009.

Since arriving at the Hawks, Burgoyne has expanded his role by spending time in defence, through the midfield and up forward where he has managed to impact matches and turn results in his team’s favour.

He uses the ball with precision and adds to Hawthorn's reputation as one of the best kicking teams in the competition.

He is aptly nacknamed 'Silk' by his teammates.

Burgoyne has become a favourite amongst Hawks fans for his ability to stand up in big games, namely last year’s Preliminary Final win over Geelong.

The utility was outstanding in the final quarter and kicked the goal that put the Hawks in front with minutes remaining. The image of him with his arms spread with the Hawthorn fans in tow is now an iconic image of Hawthorn’s premiership year.

He did the same in the 2012 Preliminary Final, only this time it was in his ability to read the ball off the hands of ruckmen to send the Hawks deep inside 50, where Cyril Rioli was able to mark and goal to put the Hawks back in front late in the last term.

But while there have been many moments of celebration for Burgoyne in his 100 games in brown and gold that we can look back on and appreciate ahead of the milestone, there was some hardship before any of that could be achieved.

Burgoyne arrived at the Ricoh Centre from Alberton with a troublesome knee, an injury that many predicated would prematurely end his career.

While fans were anxiously anticipating his first outing for Hawthorn, they had to wait until Round 8 of the 2010 season to get their first glimpse of their side’s star recruit.

His delayed start was due to off-season knee surgery followed by a broken jaw suffered while making his comeback through the Club’s VFL affiliate, Box Hill.

He made his debut for Hawthorn against Richmond at the MCG, where he impressed with 20 disposals.

He played the last 16 games of that year including the Elimination Final loss to Fremantle, where he averaged 22.4 disposals.

But it wasn’t until 2011 that Hawthorn started to see the best of Burgoyne, particularly during the finals series where he gathered 23 touches in the Semi Final win over Sydney and 25 in the loss to Collingwood in the Preliminary Final.

He averaged 18.4 disposals as a defender in 24 games that year.

It has been in the last two years, however, that Burgoyne has endeared himself to the Hawthorn faithful and re-established himself as one of the game’s elite players.

He has the ability to turn a game both by his offensive weapons and defensive prowess – he is a fierce tackler – skills that have made him one of Hawthorn’s most important players.

Burgoyne has averaged 19.7 disposals and played in 10 finals in his 100 games for Hawthorn.

He will become the 36th player in the history of the game to record 100 games at two separate clubs.