Image Credit: Port Adelaide FC  

POSITION: Medium Utility

SNAPSHOT: "A smooth mover through traffic who always seems to have time and space, Burgoyne is patient with the football and rarely wastes a possession."

Fresh off winning Woodville-West Torrens' Under 18 best and fairest in 2020, Jase Burgoyne looked primed for a big year. Frustratingly, a knee injury caused him to miss a large chunk of the pre-season and groin troubles slowed his momentum towards the back end of his 2021 campaign. The son of 240-game player Peter, Jase has nominated to join Port Adelaide as a father-son selection in the upcoming National Draft. At this stage it seems likely that Burgoyne will find his way to the club, ironically shortly after his older brother Trent departs.

STRENGTHS:

+ Kicking accuracy
+ Evasiveness
+ Accumulation
+ Clean skills
+ Decision making
+ Poise

IMPROVEMENTS:

+ Kicking penetration
+ Contested game
+ Strength

Despite the injury frustrations, Burgoyne was still able to feature at every SANFL level this season. He was granted an exemption to play for Port's Reserves side in the League competition, which provided some welcomed experience against bigger, more mature bodies. Burgoyne held his own at the level, winning an average of 16 possessions across his three games. He was equally productive in his handful of SANFL Reserves games for Woodville-West Torrens and won plenty of the football in his return to their Under 18's side, where he accumulated an average of 29 disposals per contest. He earned a state jumper as a member of South Australia's Under 19s squad and was a serviceable contributor for the Croweaters, despite having an injury interrupted preparation. Burgoyne found his fair share of the football across half-back, on the wing and through the midfield in games against Western Australia and the Allies.

At every level, Burgoyne has demonstrated his natural ability to find the football and accumulate possessions on the outside. His work rate to and from the contest allows him to get separation from his opponent and receive the football with time and space. When finding possession in traffic, Burgoyne navigates his way through congestion and patiently waits to make a decision, before delivering accurately by hand or foot. His decision making and composure with ball in hand makes him an effective rebounder out of defence, where he takes his time to assess his options further afield and deliver on target. It's across half-back where Burgoyne has played his best football, a position he has indicated is his preference at the next level.  

Typically a safe user by foot, his effectiveness stems from a combination of clean skills and good decision making, though at times his kicking lacks penetration, which is something he will need to improve at AFL level. The fundamentals appear to be there though and so there isn't anything that suggests this area of game is something he can't develop further.

Very slightly built, Burgoyne will need to add some size and strength to his frame to allow him to compete physically at AFL level. This development in his body will also help to improve his contested game, allowing him to compete more on the inside and defensively in one-on-one situations. With size to add to his natural ball winning ability, clean skills, and step through traffic, he could continue to be an effective midfield rotation.  

DRAFT PROJECTION: 40+

SUMMARY:

A typically smooth mover through traffic, good decision maker and effective user by foot, Burgoyne projects as a skilful, offensive weapon at AFL level. Likely to operate in his favoured half-back position or along the wing, Burgoyne has the tools to be an effective rebounder, playing a critical role in transitioning from defence to attack. Highly likely to end up at Port Adelaide as a father-son selection, a bid will likely come in the second half of the draft where it is expected the Power will match. Should a bid not come, Burgoyne will join the Power with their last selection in the National Draft.