Former Sydney FC midfielder Max Burgess has the chance to gain the ultimate revenge on the Sky Blues by helping Newcastle knock them out of the A-League finals series.<\/p>\n
However, Burgess, who was frozen out by the Sky Blues last season, insists payback is the furthest thing from his mind ahead of the two-legged Newcastle-Sydney semi-final starting at Allianz Stadium on Saturday night.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is no resent or ill feeling from me,\u201d said Burgess, who joined the Jets ahead of their 2025-26 campaign after making just three appearances for Sydney last season under then Sky Blues coach Ufuk Talay.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m really happy where I am, and I\u2019m really privileged to be part of this Jets playing group.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy motivation is to get better, improve every day and be the best version of myself when I come into training. That\u2019s been the mentality of the entire group.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve seen the growth of absolutely every player, and the motivation comes from the day-to-day work and enjoying football and wanting to get better.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat will remain for me and the group.\u201d<\/p>\n
Perhaps Talay\u2019s departure as Sydney coach in March, when he was replaced by Patrick Kisnorbo, means that Burgess will have less to prove over the semi-final\u2019s two legs.<\/p>\n
However, his former Sydney teammates, including goalkeeper Harrison Devenish-Meares, are well aware of the damage the 31-year-old ex-Sky Blue can cause.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019ll put his all into the games,\u201d Devenish-Meares said of Burgess. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s a true old-school footballer. On the big occasions, he\u2019s the kind of player that will step up to the plate and perform well for them.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m expecting a challenge with \u2018Maxy\u2019 and I\u2019m excited to be playing against him.\u201d<\/p>\n
Burgess is part of a Mark Milligan-coached Jets team that this season has already won the Australia Cup and A-League premiership, with the latter success having also earnt them a spot in next season\u2019s AFC Champions League Elite competition.<\/p>\n
He has also donned the captain\u2019s armband on several occasions when regular Jets skipper Kosta Grozos hasn\u2019t been part of the starting team.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a group that\u2019s very easy to work with because the personalities are so selfless and the energy is so collective, so regardless of the captaincy, it\u2019s a privilege to go to war with these boys every weekend,\u201d Burgess said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBeing an older player here, there is an opportunity in that to also grow as a person, and I\u2019ve really enjoyed not only the footballing aspect but also the day-to-day things and seeing the growth of everyone.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe great thing about this group is how together we are.\u201d<\/p>\n
Originally published as Max Burgess insists revenge not on his mind as he faces old club Sydney FC<\/a><\/p>\n