Andrew “Jack” Russell has spent his career helping athletes and teams prepare for the demands of elite sport. Today, he brings that experience to leaders, individual athletes, clubs and people who want to build the foundations for long-term performance.
For three decades, Andrew has been at the forefront of elite sport, shaping the performance, resilience and success of some of Australia’s most celebrated athletes and teams. But Andrew’s journey is more than just a list of premierships and accolades - it’s a masterclass in human performance, blending science, leadership, and an innate understanding of what truly drives sustainable success.
His approach is as much about mindset, energy, and relationships as it is about physical conditioning, making him one of the most sought-after performance architects in both elite sport and corporate leadership.
Andrew’s career has been built on high standards, relentless curiosity, and a deep belief in human potential. He has always been driven by a singular passion: uncovering what it takes for humans to achieve elite performance. His journey in elite sport has seen him prepare athletes and teams at the highest level, with six AFL premierships, over 600 games, and leadership roles at Port Adelaide, Hawthorn and Carlton football clubs, during which he helped prepare 53 All-Australian players, 4 Brownlow Medallists, and help build teams that played a total of 48 AFL finals games to peak performance. He continues to mentor some of the biggest names in the game.
Beyond the football field, he has also had the privilege of coaching world-class athletes, including 4-time Olympian and Australian 1000m record holder Jeff Riseley to a World Championship semi-final in the 800m. He currently coaches & mentors Seth O’Donnell, the national 10000m champion and Commonwealth games representative- one of the most exciting young athletes in Australia.
His philosophy is holistic and deeply personal. High performance isn't just about training harder - it is also about leading smarter. True high performance isn’t just about winning, it’s about sustained success, purpose-driven leadership, and a commitment to growth.
Working in elite performance
Across his club career
Experience across different sports, including international athletics
Human and athletic performance
Andrew has spent nearly three decades helping athletes and teams prepare, adapt and perform under pressure. He now works with CEOs, business owners, executives and corporate teams to apply those lessons to the demands they face every day.
From personal coaching to a keynote or focused team session, Andrew makes performance practical: how people prepare, manage their energy, respond when the stakes rise and build habits that support them over time.
Individual coaching and integrated performance mentoring for athletes seeking an experienced partner in their preparation.
An experienced perspective on the performance challenges facing your team.
Andrew works with teams, coaches and performance staff to understand the challenge, identify what matters most and develop a practical way forward. He draws on three decades inside elite football, while tailoring his advice to the people, resources and demands of your environment.
Andrew speaks with executive groups, sporting organisations and conference audiences. Each engagement is shaped around its audience and the ideas they need to take away.
Complete pre-season programs for individual players, and full team pre-season programs designed by Andrew.
A collaboration with Dr Izzy Sillar combining medical assessment with practical support for exercise, sleep and everyday behaviours.
From past AFL premiership players
4x AFL premiership player (2008, 2013,14,15), 3x AFL premiership captain, 2x Norm Smith medallist, 3x All Australian player and Channel 7 personality.
"I first met Jack (Andrew) as a raw 20-year-old kid. I had just finished my 3rd season of football at the Hawthorn Football Club. I had the ability but lacked the work ethic and dedication to be a great player at that stage of my career. That was soon to change.
First came the confronting conversations. Followed by a bit of resentment, and then came the trust. Jack invested countless hours into teaching and passing on his knowledge so that I could live up to my potential.
It didn’t come easy, but he taught me the mindset required to succeed, how to get the best out of yourself, and that you can always push harder than your mind tells you. Most importantly, he taught me how to be a professional athlete, and he instilled in me that it’s what is done away from peering eyes; it’s the unseen commitment to your profession that makes you go from good to great.
It’s not a 9am-5pm job, it’s a 24 hour commitment.
Fast forward 13 years, when I walked out of the footy club's doors, I had achieved everything that I could have dreamt of. Without meeting Jack as that kid, I doubt I would have accomplished what I did".
"Andrew has had one of the most significant impacts on my career. He has taught and challenged me in many ways to get the best out of myself as an athlete, a leader, and a person.
He has a broad range of knowledge and experience in human performance, both from a physical and psychological perspective. His greatest strength is reading what each individual needs and adjusting to achieve peak performance.
He is a great mate and mentor to me."
"In a team sport, Andrew would always individualise training so everyone could perform at their peak. The added bonus was that he is an incredible mind coach, especially when individuals are being challenged with soreness and injury.
We won a premiership in 2008 at Hawthorn Football Club through his management of players' bodies and a myriad of off-field challenges that players faced. He has the ability to read the player, adapt what they need physically and mentally, and shift their focus to positive outcomes."
"Jack has profoundly impacted my football career and continues to do so. I had my personal best seasons in 2017 & 2018 (2x All Australian seasons, Brownlow 2018) on the back of his ability to prepare me physically.
Jack is a great mentor in life. He genuinely cares for people and has helped me overcome many challenges in my life. This reduction in anxiety and stress also translates to higher performance on the field.
Jack is all in. You won’t find someone as dedicated as he is. I’m grateful to call him a friend and have a relationship where I can continue to tap into his expertise."
"Some people are owed special thanks. With all I've been through and the unknown of some of my recoveries, I am incredibly grateful for Jack's expertise, care and the time invested in me.
In my opinion, nobody understands high performance better and through consistent feedback, both challenging and supportive, Jack has made me a better leader, athlete and person.
Sometimes, we forget that there are people behind the roles in football that have a real-life impact on us as players. I'm lucky to have had Jack guide me through the past 6 years and single-handedly has had one of the most significant influences on me as a person and player."
"Jack played a pivotal role in my football career. Without him, I couldn’t see myself playing 100 games, let alone 407 AFL games.
Jack helped guide me, mentor me, and helped to instil the professionalism in me that I needed throughout my football journey. He supported me in developing my own personal standards.
Throughout my football journey, there were many obstacles to overcome along the way, such as expectations, losses, injuries and surgeries, to name a few. Still, I could always rely on Guddha (my nickname for Jack) to give me the best advice not only for me as an athlete but more importantly for me as a person which I’m truly grateful for."
"I met Andrew, or 'Jack' as we affectionately call him, when I was 18 and a first-year player at Port Adelaide in the AFL. He played a pivotal role in shaping me to have the successful career that I always dreamed of. He instilled in me the elite habits and resilience necessary to prepare both my body and mind for the challenges of competing at the highest level of sport. Jack’s vast knowledge made him the go-to person for all things related to endurance, speed, strength, nutrition, injury management, and recovery.
What truly set Jack apart was his willingness to get his hands dirty. He was always ready to stretch, massage, or personally assist his players whenever needed. His office door was always open. He led by example - there wasn’t a single physical challenge he asked of his players that he wouldn’t take on himself.
Jack’s passion, care, enthusiasm, and unwavering confidence in his methods are qualities I deeply admire. His conviction in his beliefs and dedication to helping others succeed are truly inspiring. If you’re looking to become a high performer and maximise your potential, Jack is the person who will guide you to reach your goals."
Tell us about yoru goals and the kind of support you are looking for - we will help you find the right way to work with Andrew.