One of the AWFA's most decorated players is "shattered" there won't be a season.
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Two-time league Star Player Adam Burchell admits he'll struggle without his beloved sport after clubs voted in favour of abandoning the season two weeks out from the proposed restart date.
The Wangaratta dynamo started his sixth AWFA season in impressive fashion, playing his part in a 5-0 victory for the Devils against Albury United.
But that will be his only game this year.
Burchell would have rather seen the league try and get started and pull the pin if it became too difficult than not attempt to play at all.
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"If NPL goes ahead, you've got Melbourne-based teams travelling up to play GV Suns in Shepparton and you've got GV Suns travelling to Melbourne, so it's going to make us look silly no matter what," Burchell said.
"With Ovens and Murray cancelled, Ovens and King cancelled, if AWFA went ahead, it was going to put soccer on the map.
"I can't understand how we haven't given it a crack, yet NPL is still going ahead.
"I feel NPL is more of a risk than AWFA because I don't think there would be many Melbourne-based players playing in AWFA this year."
Burchell and fiance Kirsty welcomed their first child at the start of June and the Englishman has ruled out playing elsewhere, despite being contacted by GV Suns.
"I've got the little one now, so I think for me it's about having a rest and a bit of family time," he said.
Burchell plans to keep his fitness up and has his sights set on completing a half marathon later in the year.