Burton played 177 matches and kicked 264 goals throughout his 12-year AFL career with Adelaide before announcing his retirement midway through the 2010 season.
He twice led the Crows' goal-kicking in 2002 and 2008, was a member of Adelaide's 2003 pre-season premiership side and finished Runner-Up in the AFL Rising Star Award back in 1999.
Burton was also appointed as AFL Players' Association President in 2010 after spending the past five seasons as a member of the AFLPA Executive Committee.
Throughout his playing career, Burton has remained active in developing his keen interest in sport and fitness and comes to the Lions with impressive credentials in the field of physical performance.
He spent eight years studying strength and fitness and is highly qualified having completed a Bachelor and Honours Degree in Sports Science.
Burton also supplemented his studies with ongoing practical experience with the Adelaide Football Club where he proved a valuable resource for the club's physical performance department.
He developed a reputation as a player for being incredibly diligent and professional in his approach to preparation and conditioning - a reputation that has since translated off the field.
More recently, Burton has joined forces with leading Health and Exercise Specialist Dr Kevin Norton to establish a fitness and lifestyle club based at AAMI Stadium named Adelaide Fitness Solution.
He is now looking forward to imparting his knowledge, experience and expertise with the Brisbane Lions in his new full-time role as Physical Performance Manager
"Throughout my career I've always kept a keen interest in fitness and have always wanted to go down that pathway once footy finished," Burton said.
"As soon as I announced my retirement, my focus immediately shifted to finding work in that field. To now be starting a new job with the Brisbane Lions straight out of footy is certainly a very exciting opportunity."
The 32 year-old has an intimate knowledge of the game and knows first-hand what is required physically from athletes to compete at a consistent level.
"The speed of the game has obviously changed in the last couple of years, so it's more critical than ever that players are close to maximum fitness when they run out onto the field," Burton said.
"Today, the game is so quick and with the rotations and the intensity and the speed that the game is played at, you just can't go out there at anything less than 100 per cent."
He will commence his duties with the Club when some of the Lions players return on Monday 4 October to prepare for the 2010 World Expo AFL exhibition match in Shanghai before returning to the Gabba on Monday 1 November - the eve of the team's pre-season training.
"I've pretty much started working already and I'm looking forward to getting my hands dirty straight away," Burton said.
"I'm just trying to gather as much information as possible so that I can hit the ground running and make sure the players are ready for China."
"The off-season is a critical period to get injuries sorted out and start working on our deficiencies as well."
