THE LATEST in a line of Burgoyne luminaries in the AFL will be blooded this weekend when Jase Burgoyne debuts for Port Adelaide.
The son of AFL great Peter Burgoyne and nephew of four-time premiership player Shaun, 18-year-old father-son pick Jase has been confirmed as a starter against Fremantle on Sunday.
Hawthorn legend Shaun Burgoyne, now returned to Alberton in a player development and mentor role, told Jase of his selection on Friday.
"A really good story for the club, we're really pleased for him," Port football manager Chris Davies told reporters on Friday.
"We think he has been fantastic (at state league level).
"Jase has been one who has always been able to rise to the level that he has been playing, whether it was under-18 level, he was getting the ball regularly, we saw him progress into reserves footy and then into (state) league footy.
"He has been doing great work for us and we're really confident he is now in a position to be in our AFL team.
"He has obviously still got some work to do on his body but we think he is going to get through fine.
"It's just a fantastic story for the Burgoyne family."
Jase's father Peter played 240 AFL games, including the club's 2004 premiership, for the Power between 1997 and 2009.
His uncle Shaun also played in Port's 2004 flag before moving to Hawthorn where he won three more flags in an esteemed 407-game career.
Port coach Ken Hinkley was absent from Friday training because of what Davies described as a family issue.
Davies confirmed Robbie Gray will return to face the Dockers after a two-week spell because of knee soreness.
Defender Darcy Byrne-Jones, who missed last week's win against Gold Coast because of COVID-19 protocols, will replace fellow backman Riley Bonner, who suffered a broken cheekbone against the Suns.
But Orazio Fantasia's wait to play an AFL game this season continues with the goalsneak again ruled out by injury.
Fantasia, who had pre-season knee surgery, is yet to feature in AFL action this year but was picked in Port's extended 25-man squad.
But Davies said the half-forward won't play this weekend due to soft tissue soreness.
