Adelaide is set to have the greatest advantage in the AFL once their new headquarters at Thebarton Oval is complete.
The new digsโwhich will cost $100 millionโwill be a 150-metre-long, two-storey building that wraps around the oval, and first began construction in February, and is expected to be finished in 2026.
Crows high-performance manager and experienced strength and conditioning coach Darren Burgess couldn't contain his excitement for the new facilities, and what it will offer the club going forward.
"Certainly the facilities at Thebarton will be world class from a recovery point of view, which we don't currently have at West Lakes," Burgess said, according to Crows media.
"The saunas, the recovery pool, the potential to add in cryotherapy, things like that, will mean that we can provide facilities so the players can recover far better from games and training.
"The design of the space will allow for players to flow seamlessly between coaching, medical, strength and conditioning, sports science and analysis staffโฆ The ability to have all of that in one space is fantastic for the players.
"Having incredible locker space, recovery zones, training literally outside from the gym - so you can go seamlessly from training to the gym - you'd be surprised how much of an impact that does have on players."
The new facilities will have Adelaide players more equipped and prepared for any match conditions, whilst also providing a leg-up among the rest of the competition.
"I think you can achieve success without a world-class facility, but it makes it a lot easier when the facility is at the level that we're going to have at Thebarton," Burgess continued.
"Within the recovery area, the saunas are built in and they're able to go at a higher temperature than what the saunas currently can go to here at West Lakes.
"We (will) have a recovery pool next to a swimming pool, which is great for contrast hot and cold environments.
"The ability to even control climate in the off-legs area, so players can train at heat, potentially at altitude, will allow an extra training stimulus for players, which will be great.
"From a sports science point of view, (we'll have) the ability to do some sprint testing indoors because the indoor area will be bigger and longer than what we currently have."
