Hawthorn Football Club’s Indigenous Program will receive a huge boost in 2021 with Hawks’ star Shaun Burgoyne transitioning into a part-time advisory role to assist with the development and implementation of the club’s program.
The 37-year-old will begin the role in the new year, after agreeing to a one-year deal that will see him balance his advisory role with his final year of football before transitioning completely into an off-field role with the club.
The sustainability of Hawthorn’s Indigenous Program was cemented in 2019, with its philanthropic partnership with the Epic Good Foundation extended by a further five years.
Epic Good co-founder Stuart Giles said Burgoyne’s newly announced advisory role was an amazing step forward and would help take the program to the next level.
“We are excited by the announcement that Shaun will begin his transition to life beyond his playing days with a more formal role inside Hawthorn’s Indigenous Program,” said Giles.
“Our decision to partner with Hawthorn to create the Epic Good Indigenous Program stems from a conversation I had with Shaun at the start of the 2015 season. Even then Shaun had a burning desire to lead and to do more in this area once his playing career drew to a close.
“He had a clear view of the opportunities he saw for Hawthorn to play a pivotal role as a community leader.
“With our partnership well into its second 5 year agreement, the knowledge that Shaun himself will now play an even closer and more direct role in assisting to do even more Epic Good via Hawthorn’s Indigenous Program is cause for great celebration.
“It also fills us with even more enthusiasm for the future of the Program and we couldn’t be more delighted to congratulate him on both the playing contract extension and his new advisory role.”
Hawthorn GM Foundation and Community Kerrie Brewer said the club was incredibly excited to have Shaun take on an official role within the Epic Good Indigenous Program.
“It is fantastic for the future growth of our program to have someone of Shaun’s knowledge and standing within the community working in the team,” said Brewer.
“Shaun has always been a strong advocate for our vision of creating sustainable change within indigenous communities, however this new role takes things one step further and will enable him to have an even greater impact.”
