Adelaide United has kicked off its 2025/26 pre-season with a fresh approach, turning to the world-class facilities of the South Australian Sports Institute (SASI) for testing and training for the very first time.
The move marks a significant step in the club’s evolving performance strategy and aligns with our renewed focus on data-driven athletic preparation.
Newly appointed Strength and Conditioning Coach, Sean Baker, is leading the pre-season testing alongside club physiotherapist Marco Mittiga, bringing with him a modern and scientific approach to physical development. Baker steps into the role following a near decade of dedicated service from his predecessor, Django Gentilcore, and is eager to build upon the strong foundations left behind.
“The pre-season testing that I will be conducting alongside our Head Physiotherapist, Marco, is designed to assist us in developing a baseline, as well as guiding us to make data-informed decisions around physical preparation,” Baker explained.
The comprehensive testing battery includes assessments that go beyond general fitness, delving deep into the biomechanics and physical profiles of each player.
“Some of the tests we implement can indicate whether an athlete is further down the strength continuum, further down the explosive continuum, or a nice combination of both,” Baker said.
“Other tests assist us in identifying whether an athlete is balanced between both limbs, or has a reliance on one side more than the other.”
This level of insight allows the coaching staff to tailor individual programs, monitor workload, and manage injury risk more effectively.
“We can even use some of the tests that indicate how fresh or how fatigued an athlete is,” Baker added.
“Ideally, everything we capture is designed to have some form of decision made off the back of it, rather than simply capturing a ‘point A’ and ‘point B’”
Adelaide United’s collaboration with SASI underscores the club’s commitment to high-performance standards and looking beyond the football sphere. Linking up with SASI gives players access to elite-level facilities and technology used by Olympic, Paralympic and national athletes at the top of their field, whilst also providing exposure to the training regimes of other sports.
SASI Director Keren Faulkner expressed her excitement around this collaboration:
“It’s fantastic to see Adelaide United making use of the South Australian Sports Institute’s world-class facilities. Having SA’s premier football team training here is not only a great endorsement of the quality of our venue, but also an incredible opportunity for SASI athletes to share our environment with other inspiring athletes. It highlights how our facilities are helping to strengthen connections across South Australian sport and inspire future champions.”
With a restructure of the High Performance Department and enhanced testing methods in place, Adelaide United is setting the tone for a forward-thinking season ahead. The early data gathered will inform the physical programs throughout the season, giving the Reds a strong foundation for what lies ahead in the Isuzu UTE A-League campaign.
