STAR midfielder Christian Burgess has dropped a bombshell by returning to Myrtleford.
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Burgess, who has played the opening six rounds of the VFL season for Coburg, is unavailable for at least the next two rounds.
He cited increasing work and travel commitments as a physical education teacher with a youth justice centre as the major reason behind his decision.
“If you can’t commit 100 per cent in the VFL, you can fall behind fairly quickly,” Burgess said.
If you can’t commit 100 per cent in the VFL, you can fall behind fairly quickly
- Christian Burgess
“I had to make a call to fit everything in.
“It’s been an awesome experience playing at Coburg and I’ve learnt a lot.
“It was just getting really hard to combine work and travel with training three nights a week and something had to give.”
Burgess joined Coburg after a stellar Ovens and Murray season and originally gave himself a two-year window to get drafted.
Last year’s Morris medal favourite played three of the opening six rounds for Coburg under senior coach Peter German before making the decision to pull up stumps early this week.
He spent a season with Williamstown’s development side in 2013.
Myrtleford coach Leigh Corcoran said Burgess’s return was a huge mid-season boost for the Saints.
"From our point of view we're rapt he's come back to the club," Corcoran said.
"We have certainly missed him and his midfield consistency, plus his ability to go forward and be really dangerous.
"Christian's a local boy whose family is heavily involved so it's going to be fantastic to have him around again."
Myrtleford has a 3-3 win-loss record and is one of several teams fighting to stay in touch with the top five.
The Saints play Albury on Saturday.