The seven-month exile: Burgess's journey from forgotten man to Jets' leader

Mark Milligan was not worried about Max Burgess being sidelined at Sydney FC for seven months. From their first meeting, the Jets coach recognized Burgess's determination to reclaim and surpass his previous football form.

Burgess will face his former team and coach, Ufuk Talay, when the Jets host Sydney FC at McDonald Jones Stadium on Saturday. The midfielder is currently in the best shape 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."

At 30 years old, Burgess only made three appearances in his final season with Sydney FC, a campaign where the club failed to reach the finals. Previously, he had averaged 24 appearances per season at his boyhood club.

Summary: Max Burgess overcame a challenging seven-month sidelining at Sydney FC and returned to top form, now leading the Jets with professionalism and hunger.

Newcastle Herald — 2025-10-31

The seven-month exile: Burgess's journey from forgotten man to Jets' leader

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