How did you get into sport?

Adam Russell - Sports Physiotherapist who's worked with the "Big 4" professional football codes in Australia


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Adam Russell is a sports physiotherapist who is one of only a small group of people who have had the unique privilege to work in the 4 major football codes in Australia. Adam has worked with the likes of the Queensland Reds (Rugby), Brisbane Roar (Soccer), Brisbane Lions & Gold Coast Suns (AFL) and the Gold Coast Titian's (NRL), with the final 2 clubs being ones in which he was the head physiotherapist for during his times with both organisations. Adam shares the highs and lows of his 20 years experience in professional sport and how he has now transitioned into operating his very own injury management clinic in Brisbane. Enjoy Adam’s story of being someone who has always loved sport as a kid and how he has been able to forge a long and successful career in an industry he has always dreamed of being a part of. 


Highlights from the episode…

  • Adam shares how he used a week in Sydney to visit 4 different NRL clubs and how the networks he built from this trip eventually led to sporting club roles.
  • We discuss how to approach networks by “adding value” and ways in which you can add value to people you would like to build professional relationships with. 
  • After 3 seasons with the QLD Reds Adam shares how he got his next role with the Brisbane Lions AFL team where he spent the next 5 seasons. 
  • Adam provides an insight into the medical structure at the Brisbane Lions including number of staff, roles, how players were managed, how days were structured etc. 
  • I share an embarrassing story of the first time Adam and I met and how I missed a golden opportunity to learn from Adam’s experience. If I only exercise a little humility!
  • Adam shares the importance of always learning, the power of curiosity and asking questions despite how long you have been in the industry. 
  • After a successful stint with the Lions, he was then presented with an opportunity to be the Head Physio of his own club the Gold Coast Suns (AFL).
  • Adam shares the mistakes he made in trying to be someone he wasn’t and how he now approaches roles with “being more himself”.
  • Adam is transparent about some of the challenges that came with the role and feeling burnout, which eventually led to him leaving the GC Suns. 
  • After having some needed time away from professional sport Adam shares how he got the role as Head Physio for the Gold Coast Titans. 
  • Adam shares some of the highlights and challenges that came with the Titans role and how they can echo some of the experience that occur across a lot of clubs in professional sport. 
  • Finally the differences and similarities in culture, communication, service delivery, athlete types etc. he found across all the football codes that he has worked in. 


People mentioned: 

  • Cameron Lillicrap -  https://www.linkedin.com/in/cameron-lillicrap-704b1a2a/?originalSubdomain=au
  • Nathan Carlos - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathan-carloss-b7128412/?originalSubdomain=au
  • Peter Blanch - https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-blanch-50900b106/


Adam Russell contact details:

  • LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamrussellphysio/?originalSubdomain=au
  • PRP Health - https://www.adamrussellphysio.com.au/

Host: Luis Resa

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Thanks for listening and please leave a review. If you would like more information on anything mentioned in this episode simply send me an email.

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How did you get into sport?By Luis Resa