Burgoyne is of Indigenous Australian descent with tribal ancestry that can be traced to the Kokatha (Nunga) in South Australia.

In the Round 21, 2000 clash against Carlton, Burgoyne won the match for Port Adelaide after the siren.

Despite being selected for and representing South Australia in the final State of Origin game against Victoria in 1999, Burgoyne was not technically eligible under the existing rules, having resided in the Northern Territory and not South Australia for the majority of his life between the ages of 10 and 17.

In 2007 Burgoyne made a highly successful transition to the half back flank, following an injury-riddled 2006 in his usual midfield role, and finished third in the club's Best and Fairest count.

He and team-mate Brendon Lade, the last remaining members of Port Adelaide's inaugural AFL team, both played their final games in round 22, 2009.