2009 season:
A knee reconstruction didn’t keep Brett Burton down in 2009 when he returned to Adelaide’s line up in round 16 against St Kilda. After a seven possession game he went on to kick four goals in the Showdown the following week and another four goal haul against Geelong in round 18. In round 22 he thrilled the crowd at Docklands with the spectacular mark of the year. He finished the year with a total of seven games with a return of 15 goals, 63 disposals and 25 marks.

David Noble’s 2009 review:
“It was one of the better returns from someone coming off a knee reconstruction. For Brett to prepare himself in that manner, off no pre-season, and to be able to come back and play at the level he did was very encouraging for us and for next year. He’s going to be an important part of our forward line and we may try and use his running power a bit more next year. It was just a credit to him with the way he went about his rehab and it was amazing to watch.”

Career:
Burton was originally drafted from SANFL Woodville-West Torrens, where he burst on to the league scene as a high-flying forward in 1998. The Crows drafted him with their first round selection later that year and he made his AFL debut in 1999, played 21 games, finished seventh in the club champion voting and providing several nominations for mark of the year. Injuries restricted Burton to nine games in his second year and 14 games in 2001. But in 2002 Burton, playing as a forward, was the club’s leading goalkicker with 51. Injuries again held him back the next two seasons but he recovered from an early season hamstring strain to play 20 games in 2005. A severe hamstring tear late in 2006 nearly ended his year but he returned for the preliminary final. In 2008 he injured his knee in round 15 and underwent a knee reconstruction, but still managed to lead Adelaide’s goalkicking for the year with 34.