Adelaide has bolstered its high performance team by securing experienced and highly regarded industry professional Darren Burgess.

Burgess joins the Crows as High Performance Manager after spending the past two seasons with this year’s premiers Melbourne.

Prior to that he worked with English Premier League clubs Arsenal, where he was director of high performance, and Liverpool as head of fitness and conditioning, and had two stints with Port Adelaide.

He has also previously been head of fitness with the Football Federation of Australia, working with the Socceroos.

Burgess will have oversight across Adelaide’s AFL and AFLW programs in what Crows Head of Football Adam Kelly described as a major off-field boost.

“To have someone of Darren’s experience and expertise is a significant addition to our Club as we look to fast track the development of our playing group,” Kelly said.

“He has worked with elite sporting teams both in Australia and abroad for nearly two decades and has a thorough understanding of what is required for athletes to prepare and perform at a consistently high level.

“His arrival further strengthens our talented and hard-working high performance team.”

Burgess is excited by the prospect of working with Adelaide’s emerging playing group.

“I have watched the Crows embark on their list rebuild from afar and the progress and performances have been encouraging,” Burgess said.  

“It is great to reunite with Matthew Nicks, who I have previously worked with when he was a player at the Swans and again as an assistant coach at Port, and I look forward to doing my bit to help him and the Club achieve success.

“I would also like to thank Melbourne and all the players, coaches and staff, for what has been an incredible journey over the past couple of years.”

Burgess will join the Club before pre-season training commences in November, along with recently appointed Head of Strength and Power Sam Dodge who has previously worked with the Bristol Bears and Welsh Rugby Union.