EFL 2019: Vermont recruit Christian Burgess to miss remainder of Eastern Football League season

Eastern Football League reigning premier Vermont will be without one of its marquee recruits for the remainder of the year.

Christian Burgess in action for Vermont. Picture: Field of View Sports Photography

Eastern Football League reigning premier Vermont will be without one of its marquee recruits for the remainder of the year.

The Eagles have confirmed star midfielder Christian Burgess suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in the Round 1 win over Norwood.

Burgess had to be stretchered from the Terrara Rd ground on Saturday, after his leg became trapped underneath an opponent, and he will undergo a knee reconstruction.

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Burgess was one of several key off-season signings announced by Vermont and shaped as one of the recruits of 2019.

Christian Burgess in action for Ovens and Murray in a representative game. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

He finished third in the Ovens and Murray’s league best and fairest award in 2016 and played three games for Coburg in the VFL in 2017.

Burgess had a brilliant opening quarter in Vermont’s 64-point win over the Norsemen and was among the best players on the ground when he was injured.

“He was going to be one of the premier players in the competition so obviously it is a loss to us but I guess more broadly from an EFL Premier perspective, they will obviously be without one of the premier players in the competition,” Vermont coach Harmit Singh said.

“It didn’t look good but we held some hope and even on Monday morning when we were at the Epworth, the sports doc said there was a small chance it could be positive.

“The MRI came back with obviously the news and it’s unfortunate for Christian, who’s a great bloke and really popular among the playing group.

Chris Jones flies for a mark for South Croydon. Picture: Steve Bibby

“He really did set the tone early in that game … the competition will see just how good he is next year.”

South Croydon recruit Chris Jones could also be facing an extended stint on the sidelines.

Jones came from the ground at Cheong Park during the last quarter of the Bulldogs’ 25-point loss to Balwyn after hyperextending his knee.

Jones signed with South Croydon full-time this year after playing 36 games at Box Hill Hawks over the past three seasons.

He was sent for scans this week to determine how long he will miss.

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