The Seven-Month Exile: Burgess's Journey from Forgotten Man to Jets' Leader
Mark Milligan was unfazed by Max Burgess being sidelined at Sydney FC for seven months. When they first met, the new Jets coach recognized Burgess's strong desire not only to reclaim his previous form but also to elevate his game.
Burgess will face his former club Sydney FC—and his previous coach, Ufuk Talay—for the first time since leaving Moore Park, as the Jets host the Sky Blues at McDonald Jones Stadium on Saturday. The midfielder is currently in his career-best shape.
"I played against Max and have known Max for a long time," Milligan said. "I had a clear vision about what I thought Max's role would be here. Part of that was bringing through and showing the young ones what it takes to be a professional."
"What he did go through [in Sydney] was not easy. The way he went about things—he stayed professional and kept working. When I brought him in here, he was in good shape and had a hunger."
"The first time I sat down with Max, I saw the hunger in him to get back to the player he knew he could be and go on from there to become better."
Burgess, now 30, played only three games in his final season at Sydney FC, during which the team missed the finals. Before that, he averaged 24 appearances per season at his boyhood club.
Author's summary: Max Burgess overcame a challenging seven-month exclusion at Sydney FC to emerge as a determined and in-form leader for the Newcastle Jets.
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