The Seven-Month Exile: Burgess's Journey from Forgotten Man to Jets' Leader
Mark Milligan admitted that what Max Burgess endured during his time in Sydney was far from easy. Yet, the new Newcastle Jets coach quickly recognized something special when they first met—a raw hunger in Burgess to rebuild his career and push his limits.
This weekend, Burgess is set to face his former team, Sydney FC, and ex-coach Ufuk Talay at McDonald Jones Stadium. It will be his first encounter with them since leaving Moore Park, and he enters the match in the best form of his career.
"I played against Max and have known him for a long time," Milligan said. "I had a clear vision of what his role would be here. Part of that was showing the young players what professionalism looks like."
"What he went through in Sydney was not easy. He remained professional and kept working. When I brought him here, he was fit and eager. From our first meeting, I saw his determination to become even better."
At 30, Burgess had only managed three appearances in his final season with Sydney FC—a disappointing campaign where the Sky Blues missed the finals. In the seasons before that, he had consistently averaged around 24 matches per year for his boyhood club.
Author’s summary
After months on the sidelines at Sydney FC, Max Burgess has reignited his career under Mark Milligan, emerging as a driving force for the revitalized Newcastle Jets.