The seven-month exile: Burgess's journey from forgotten man to Jets' leader
Mark Milligan was never worried about Max Burgess being sidelined at Sydney FC for seven months. When they first met, the new Jets coach immediately noticed Burgess's determination not only to reclaim his former footballing level but to surpass it.
Burgess is set to face Sydney FC—and his former coach, Ufuk Talay—for the first time since leaving Moore Park when the Jets host the Sky Blues at McDonald Jones Stadium on Saturday. The influential midfielder is currently playing at the peak 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, appeared only three times in his final season at Sydney FC, a campaign in which the Sky Blues missed the finals. Previously, he had averaged 24 appearances per season at his boyhood club.
Summary: Max Burgess overcame a challenging seven-month exile at Sydney FC to become a key leader for the Jets, driven by professionalism and a strong desire to grow.
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