Blues make “enormous offer” to poach renowned fitness boss from Crows

Carlton has made an ‘enormous offer’ to poach Adelaide fitness boss Darren Burgess, according to SEN SA’s Michelangelo Rucci.

The Blues’ offer comes after the current director of high performance Andrew Russell announced he’d depart at season’s end and leave the AFL industry after 26 years.

With the role vacant, Rucci says that the Blues have come in with a big offer for Burgess, who many now expect to leave West Lakes.

“What's happening at Adelaide at the moment is that Carlton has made an enormous offer to Darren Burgess,” Rucci told SEN SA The Run Home.

“It’s an enormous offer because they’ve lost Andrew Russell.

“I'm intrigued as to where that will land as well.”

Burgess has served in fitness roles at English Premier League clubs Arsenal and Liverpool while he’s also had long stints at other AFL clubs including Sydney, Port Adelaide and Melbourne - where he played a huge role in the club’s 2021 premiership.

With or without Burgess, the Blues will be hoping to get on top of their injury troubles in 2025 after they had 19 players on their official AFL injury report before Round 24.