The teenager was set to play cricket with Otley in the Airedale & Wharfedale league in West Yorkshire, England, but he’s been ruled out.

“There’s a rule in place that if you’ve played under 19 cricket for your state in the last five years, you are ineligible to play in that league,” he said.

Melville believes the rule is in place to ensure positions in the teams are taken by English players rather than recruiting from overseas.

It’s been a disappointing season for Melville with Victorian Premier outfit, Melbourne.

He spent the first half of the year in the top grade, but has been in seconds since Christmas.

“My form hasn’t been as great as what I was hoping this year, so I’ll probably have a bit of a refresher and go again next year, just to take my mind off it a bit,” he said.

Melville will now look to spend 2019 playing overseas and while it’s disappointing to miss this year, he admits he can’t wait to play football.

“Coming off such a high last year, it was always going to be difficult to leave with such a great group of fellows, the coaches as well, the culture at the footy club is second to none,” he enthused.

And Melville’s decision to return could be just the start.

Five players left  the club after stunning Albury.

But speculation is mounting the retired Daine Porter will return, while Nick Richards has nominated the Pies as his second club should he fail to play VFL.