The Sky’s the limit for Olympic star Darcy Burgess

Darcy Burgess has well and truly stepped out of the shadows this season as one of the National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s most talented young players.

With four goals to his name so far this season and a positive impact on the park in every game, Burgess has thrived in the competition in 2022 and has credited his success to his coach Ante Juric.

Having spent several years at Olympic, the 23-year-old highlighted the importance of Juric giving him the support and confidence to play his game as he continues to grow as a footballer.

“I’ve been at the club for a while and I’m very comfortable around the players and around the club,” Burgess explained.

“Ante and the coaching staff give me a lot of confidence to just play and play what I see and I think that just kind of filters through so I think it’s all down to them really.”

Alongside the quality of his own game, Olympic have been impressive as a team this season with strong performances seeing them third on the National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s ladder heading into Round 14.

“I think things are really gelling for us this season,” he said.

“We’ve had some good results and we’re still improving.

“We’ve got a really good environment and things are going really well.”

Having joined Olympic and started playing Men’s football alongside his brother Max, who now plays for Sydney FC, Darcy has adapted to playing without the familiar face of his brother and has found other experience to learn from as he continues to grow as a footballer.

“I was a lot younger back then [when Max was on the team], I think that was sort of 2017/2018,” he explained.

“He’s moved on, but it’s been a couple of years now so I think I’ve gotten used to it.

“We have such a supportive group and real experience with Roy [O’Donovan] and a few of the other boys who can guide us because we’re still quite a young team and I think that’s what helps.”

Burgess highlighted the positive impact having an experienced player like Roy O’Donovan has on the relatively young Sydney Olympic team.

“It’s fantastic [playing with Roy O’Donovan],” he said.

“He’s so he’s got so much ability, as everyone’s seen, and then off the pitch he guides the team and the younger players.

“That element that he’s brought to the team, you can’t measure it.

“It’s just a dream for all of us to have him around.”

Having made an impact on the league at a young age, Burgess has his sights set on playing professional football and using the NPL NSW Men’s competition as a stepping stone to do so – much like many other talented young players have done.

“I have aspirations to play higher, I want to try and play professionally,” he explained.

“I think all young players in this league would be looking to push on.

“I think that’s what makes the NPL so competitive – everyone’s trying to push to that next level.

“To make that step you just have to play well and this league is so competitive, there’s so much talent, there are so many good players.

“It’s just a question of trying to keep consistent and play well and hopefully, things work out.”

With an incredibly tight battle for finals, Sydney Olympic are well and truly in the race for the Premiership and Burgess is excited to continue his team’s campaign and hopefully come out on top.

“I think everyone feels that it’s so close,” he said.

“Every single week there’s no margin for error, every week we have to be concentrating.

“We’ve got a really good vibe, we’re on a good little run of form now and I think we’re just gaining confidence every week, we’re improving and I think we’re really making a charge.”