Andrew Russell: Inside Hawthorn’s Dynasty, Elite Standards & Carlton’s Rise | #208

Sporting Max

In episode 208, Max chats with legendary high performance director Andrew Russell! Andrew takes us through starting out at Essendon working with James Hird and Matthew Lloyd - including helping Hird return to his best and leading to a premiership. At just 23 years old, he built trust with senior players, a foundation that would shape the rest of his career. From training days at Port Adelaide, where Michael Wilson once pushed himself to the point of exhaustion, to identifying the trigger for Hawthorn’s dynasty, Andrew shares the insights that define elite performance. He takes us inside how he and Alastair Clarkson built a powerhouse Hawks side from 2005, the breakthrough 2008 flag, and the challenge of managing success. One story stood out: when the players returned a combined 85kg heavier after that flag, Andrew wheeled in 85kg of lard, dropped it on the table, and said, “This is your new teammate.” That moment set the tone for the years that followed. Andrew shares what separates good from great athletes, highlighting the relentless determination of Kane Cornes and Sam Mitchell. We also unpack his time at Carlton and the unbelievable run the Blues had in 2023. An incredible look at the culture, standards, and mindset behind greatness in Australian sport. All this and much more in episode 208 of Sporting Max! www.instagram.com/sportingmax.podcast/