Milward has indicated to the Hawks he won’t be back at Canterbury Park for the 2010 Bendigo Football League season, ending a successful stint at the club which yielded back-to-back premierships in 2007 and 2008, and the 2008 Michelsen Medal.

For the past three years Milward has played with Eaglehawk while being based in Melbourne.

“It has been three years of travel now, and obviously, the first couple of years were pretty easy when you’re on the top of your game and you have won a couple of flags,” Milward said yesterday.

“This year started to wear a bit thin, though; it became a bit of a tiring year with the travel and carrying the load.

“I’m wary that if I keep doing the travel thing I will burn myself out and get sick of footy.”

While 31-year-old Milward is yet to put pen to paper with Sunbury, he will join former Gisborne duo Jordan Barham and Rod Sharp, who have signed with the Lions.

Sunbury bowed out of the Ballarat league’s premiership race this year with a 31-point loss to Lake Wendouree in the elimination final.

“The club seems fairly driven with its expectations, having been around the mark for a few years now and keen to go a step further,” Milward said.

”I suppose with leaving Eaglehawk, you would love to be able to play with your mates all the time, and they are going to be thereabouts as a side next year, which is a hard part about leaving, but I’ve knocked back opportunities to go elsewhere in the past.

“This is a new challenge and a new league, which means you’ve got to go out and prove yourself again, which is something I’m looking forward to.

“Sunbury has a young list, so, hopefully, I’ve got a few attributes that will work well with them.”

As well as his time with Eaglehawk, Milward also played in the BFL for Kangaroo Flat, including the 2000 grand final, where he was awarded the VCFL Medal in the Roos’ 12-point loss to Castlemaine.