The former fitness boss of the Socceroos and Liverpool is now, reportedly, the highest-paid high performance manager in the AFL.
Burgess re-joined the Power last year and has played a crucial role in helping Port return to the top of the AFL ladder.
The Power's impressive fitness levels since his return have seen Burgess’ stocks rise considerably in AFL circles, but Port Adelaide CEO Keith Thomas said the club's biggest threat to retaining him came from overseas.
Thomas didn't need time to consider the club's options when the chance came to re-sign Burgess for a further three years.
"It was a no-brainer. We feel as if we're at the start of a pretty exciting journey with this group and we're trying to make sure we consolidate this team around Ken (Hinkley)," Thomas said.
"Darren's a genius, he flogs these blokes to within an inch of their life and then he convinces them that he's doing them a favour – it's incredible.
"To be honest the biggest concern that we had was from the international market.
"Darren is well regarded internationally and there are a number of sports and competitions that are just entering the area of sports science who would be really interested in what Darren brings to the table."
Burgess, who admitted soccer remained his primary passion, said he was happy to commit long-term to Australian football and the Power.
He said that working alongside Hinkley he had a far greater ability to 'do his job' than he would in a similar role at a soccer club in Europe.
"The thing about the AFL and in particular Port Adelaide is your ability, with the staff we have here, to make changes is far greater in AFL than what it is in soccer - because a lot of the time in soccer you're dictated by the manager and the fixture.
"It wasn't a hard decision to commit to AFL over soccer."
"My family and I love Adelaide but the love that I got from Port Adelaide in my few years last time and then seeing the progress (they’ve made) this time, it's exactly where we want to be."
Below: Darren Burgess and star Socceroo Tim Cahill in 2010. Picture: Getty Images
Over the next few years, Burgess will also play a significant role in establishing the Power's new high performance relationship with the University of South Australia.
The partnership will aim to make Port Adelaide and South Australia a focal point for developing high performance coaches.
Burgess said it was a world-first partnership that could prove hugely beneficial for the Power.
"It's fantastic for the industry, it's fantastic for Port Adelaide to be able to bring university resources and into our domain," he said.
"It's really unique, there's nowhere in the world that's doing it so we're pretty excited to host that here."
So vital is Burgess to the project that without him Thomas said the club would never have thought of such an undertaking.
Twitter: @AFL_Harry
