Crows smooth a path for Silk

ADELAIDE has sounded out former Hawthorn and Port Adelaide star Shaun Burgoyne to bolster its football department.

It is understood the fourtime premiership player is among a number of candidates the Crows have sounded out.

Burgoyne, 38, who played 157 games for bitter rivals the Power before playing 250 at the Hawks, retired after a glittering close to 20-year career in the AFL.

He is understood to be weighing up his next step.

Adelaide already has an Indigenous liaison officer, Jeremy Johncock, a cousin of much-loved Crow Graham.

Burgoyne has some strong links to people at the Crows. AFLW star Erin Phillips is his sister-in-law, while he knows Crows chief executive Tim Silvers from their time together at Hawthorn.

Burgoyne almost took up an offer at Gold Coast in 2019, checking out schools and property there, but stayed in Melbourne for family reasons.

Coach Matthew Nicks has said the Crows will do whatever they can to strengthen their football department.