The Seven-Month Exile: Burgess's Journey from Forgotten Man to Jets' Leader
Mark Milligan, the new Jets coach, was not worried despite Max Burgess being sidelined at Sydney FC for seven months. At their first meeting, Milligan immediately recognized Burgess's strong desire to reclaim and surpass his former footballing abilities.
Burgess is set to face Sydney FC—and his former coach Ufuk Talay—when the Jets host the Sky Blues at McDonald Jones Stadium on Saturday. Currently, he is enjoying the best form of his career.
"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, 30, played only three matches during his final Sydney season, which ended without a finals appearance. Prior to that, he averaged 24 appearances per season at his boyhood club.
Author's summary: Max Burgess's resilience and professionalism helped transform him from an overlooked player at Sydney FC into a key leader and top form midfielder for the Jets.