PORT Adelaide coach Mark Williams says the future of half-back Peter Burgoyne is still uncertain, despite putting in a best-on-ground performance against Melbourne on Saturday.

Burgoyne, who was moved into the midfield to support his teammates, picked up 37 possessions, seven clearances and kicked two goals in the 78-point thumping of the Dees.

However, Williams remained non-committal when asked if the 30-year-old had just saved his career.

"We don’t go on one game," Williams said.

"It's easy for people to write off champions. You watch the Olympics and people do it every minute. Sport is a pretty hard thing. Peter has been in it (the industry) for a long time and he doesn't owe us anything as far as what he’s done for this club – we owe him.

"The ability and opportunity to give him that time [to rediscover his form] was our favour to him and nothing else. Others may write him off or not believe in him, but we’ll certainly give him the best opportunity."

Burgoyne has copped some heavy criticism in Adelaide on the back of a string of lacklustre performances.

The premiership veteran was sent back to the SANFL last month after turning up to a recovery session in an unfit state and, before Saturday, had lacked his trademark flair, skills and decision-making.

Williams said it was good to see Burgoyne prove the knockers wrong, after some suggested his career was over.

"Peter Burgoyne was someone people have been doubting for a fair amount of time and today I thought he showed what he could do," Williams said.

"He was playing onball against some pretty good players and he ripped them apart. He showed his willingness to run hard, to tackle, to win clearances and hardball-gets and to kick goals.

"He displayed ... he wants to be here next year and I think that’s what our supporters, our football staff and our players were looking forward to him displaying.

"We look forward to him carrying that on next week."