Melbourne to lose its fitness guru

TOP rated Melbourne high performance chief Darren Burgess is expected to part ways with the club on the back of its 2021 premiership.

Burgess is eyeing a move to South Australia for family reasons and could clinch a role with Adelaide Crows’ fitness department for next season.

Burgess has worked for Port Adelaide and has been lauded for his past two seasons at Melbourne.

He has been credited for helping equip Christian Petracca with the running power to become one of the most damaging midfielders in the league.

His two-year project paid off on Saturday with Petracca claiming the Norm Smith Medal in the victory over Western Bulldogs in Perth.

It came one week after his other onball protege, Clayton Oliver, came third in the Brownlow Medal after a similarly sensational season.

Melbourne had prepared this year for the likely departure of Burgess and is to replace him from within.

In April, chief executive Gary Pert said the club would support Burgess in any move he made to return to South Australia.

“As the year unfolds we will continue in our conversations with Darren and ultimately it will be his decision regarding 2022,” Pert said. “The club will give 100 per cent support to Darren to act in the best interests of his relationship with his children.”

Burgess is one of the most accomplished and respected fitness men in the AFL after stints in the English Premier League as director of high performance at Arsenal and head of fitness at Liverpool.

He was integral in handling Steve May’s hamstring injury before the grand final.

May was able to play in the decider despite having a 6cm hamstring tear sustained in the preliminary final win over Geelong.