Fox Footy recruit Shaun Burgoyne says it was a “straightforward decision” to join the network as part of 2025’s extended coverage.
The Indigenous games record holder and four-time premiership champion for Hawthorn and Port Adelaide brings a wealth of knowledge to Fox Footy to bolster its enhanced 2025 coverage as part of the new broadcast rights deal including ‘Super Saturday Live’.
Opening up on his move, Burgoyne was “very excited” to join Fox Footy’s expanded team and broadcast scope for next year.
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“I can’t wait for 2025, I’ve always had a good relationship with Fox Sports throughout my playing days,” Burgoyne told foxfooty.com.au.
“It was a pretty straightforward decision, to be honest, with Fox having more coverage and wider coverage for 2025 and moving forward. I felt like it was the logical thing to do.
“Come the end of the season, you’re always planning for what the future looks like and it was the right decision for me to come across and be part of the wider coverage.”
While the respected analyst is one of the big media recruits, there were several key on-field moves in another busy AFL trade period.
As Burgoyne casts an eye on the 2025 season, he identified Collingwood as the big winner of the trade window after bringing in star halfback Dan Houston and free agent Harry Perryman.
“I think Collingwood did really well bringing in Houston and Perryman,” he said.
“Houston is probably the best half-back flanker in the league and in the sweet spot in his career. Throw him and Perryman into the core group of talent they have, they look like they’re going to rise again in 2025.”
While some had Port Adelaide as a trade period loser given the loss of dual All-Australian Houston, Burgoyne thinks the Power still had a productive off-season by adding “forward talent” in Jack Lukosius and Joe Richards.
Burgoyne acknowledged Houston is “a great player” but thinks Port has strong halfback depth to cover the 27-year old’s departure with the likes of Kane Farrell, Miles Bergman, Lachie Jones and Logan Evans.
“It’s not something Port envisioned, but if there’s one position they could cover it’s Dan’s position,” he said.
“They needed to get more forward talent in with Charlie Dixon retiring. Lukosius is a quality forward who hasn’t quite hit his straps yet.
“But you’d think with the quality midfield of Zak Butters, Connor Rozee and Jason Horne-Francis and the experience of Ollie Wines and Travis Boak, the delivery will hopefully be a lot better to Jack to help him flourish.
“Joe Richards is a young player still learning his way and finding his niche within the game.
“It was a very tough position for him at Collingwood to break in behind Jamie Elliott, Bobby Hill, Lachie Schultz and Beau McCreery, so he’s looking for more opportunity.
“Port got more forward talent in. They didn’t have the finish to the season they wanted, but they made changes and I feel like they improved their list.”
Trade Recap: Port Adelaide | 02:46
Trade Recap: Hawthorn Hawks | 02:39
As for Burgoyne’s other former cub, Hawthorn, he thinks it’s “the other big winner of the trade period” with key defensive recruits Tom Barrass and Josh Battle.
“They’ve identified some shortcomings in the team with key defenders,” Burgoyne said of the Hawks.
“To get Barrass in as one of the best key defenders in the game and a quality defender in Battle, it gives Sam Mitchell really good flexibility with his hybrid players that can play multiple positions.
“Obviously they didn’t get to achieve the ultimate this year, but made great inroads and I think everyone can see the path Sam and the coaching group has them on.”