He required surgery for the injury, resulting in orthopedic surgeon Matthew Liptak, a former Adelaide Crows player, inserting a metal plate and 10 screws into his leg.

[7] He played two games early for Box Hill before having an operation to remove the screws and plate in his leg.

[9] Burton played four games in a row but he suffered a calf injury during the 2016 Qualifying Final versus the Geelong Cats, and his season ended there.

He earned a Rising Star nomination in round 2, 2017, in a 24 point loss to Adelaide at the MCG, with 26 possessions, nine marks and four tackles.

Burton, who was overseas on holiday at the time, was reportedly unhappy with how Hawthorn was treating the trade with him and especially the circumstances with him being a contracted player.