Burgess departs, Crows name successor

Adelaide’s high performance boss Darren Burgess is moving to a European soccer powerhouse, with the Crows moving quickly to secure an internationally-experienced replacement.

Burgess, who has been a significant part of the Club’s football program as General Manager High Performance for the past four years, is joining Italian Serie A club Juventus as Director of Performance.

He will be replaced by Ian McKeown who comes to the Crows from NHL club, the Philadelphia Flyers, where he has held the position of Vice President, Athlete Performance and Wellness. He has previously been Head of High Performance at the Port Adelaide Football Club.

Up until now, Burgess had resisted advances from Australian and overseas sporting organisations to remain in Adelaide due to his belief and confidence in the Club's direction.

However, the Juventus opportunity was simply too good to refuse.

“I’ve loved my time at the Crows and the football program has made significant progress, and the Club is in a really strong position,” Burgess said.

“It would have been great to be around to watch this group achieve further success but this is an outstanding opportunity, if not a once in a lifetime experience for myself, my wife and children.

“I’ve always had a passion for the world game and the scope of this new position is expansive and presents fresh leadership and senior executive level challenges.”

Crows EGM Football Adam Kelly thanked Burgess for his contribution, adding his transparency had allowed the Club to make a smooth transition.

“He has kept us abreast of the situation over recent months and by doing so has provided us with the opportunity to identify and appoint a first-class candidate to what is a crucial role,” Kelly said.

“Darren is clearly a world class operator and our players, coaches and high performance staff have benefited greatly from his elite standards, wealth of knowledge and experience.

“As an organisation, we are thrilled for Darren and his family and wish them every success with this exciting new chapter in their lives.

“We are also really looking forward to welcoming Ian and his family to the Club.

“To be able to secure someone of Ian’s capability, experience and character in this key role maintains our confidence in the quality of our high performance program.”

McKeown has been with the Flyers since 2022 and has also worked with the Australian Institute of Sport and Football Federation of Australia, among other roles.

“This is an opportunity that my family and I were compelled to pursue,” McKeown said.

“Having worked in the AFL industry, I have always had great respect for the Adelaide Football Club and have been impressed with the progress that they have made, the quality of the people that I have been exposed to in the recruitment process and I am excited by the opportunity that awaits us in the years ahead.

“With regard to the High Performance Program, it is in a strong position with a great team of people at the Club, and having worked with Darren in the past I am sure there will be some philosophical succession in the way we do things.

“We have had an amazing experience with the Philadelphia Flyers and I am grateful for the opportunity that was afforded to us but we are excited to get back to Adelaide and we look forward to immersing ourselves in the Club.”

McKeown will officially start work at the Club in November ahead of the players returning for pre-season training.

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