Collingwood is delighted to announce the appointment of Jess Burger as the General Manager of Women’s Football. Bringing over eight years of experience in high-performance sports management, Burger joined Collingwood in 2016 as a Performance Analyst. Since then, she has rapidly advanced within the organization and is now poised to oversee the Club’s AFLW and VFLW programs.
In her new role, Burger will continue to spearhead the development and implementation of strategies for the Women’s Football programs while maintaining her responsibilities in analytics and match-day strategy within the Club’s AFL program, where her contributions are highly esteemed. This newly established position will be integrated into the Club’s Executive leadership team.
Expressing gratitude for the opportunity, Jess Burger, the GM of Women’s Football, stated, “I appreciate the trust placed in me with this new role and the continuous support and guidance I’ve received from colleagues within the Club and across the industry throughout my football journey.”
“I value the chance to maintain a multifaceted role spanning across football programs and the broader business operations, and I extend my thanks to Jeff, Ned, and the Club Board for this opportunity,” she added.
“At Collingwood, there is a steadfast commitment to fostering a high-performance culture across all football programs, and I am enthusiastic about further contributing to this endeavor and showcasing our achievements within the industry.”
Since 2021, Burger has held the position of Head of Women’s Football in addition to her role as AFLW List Manager, a position she was promoted to in 2018.
Recognized as a leading AFLW administrator within the league, Burger has participated in various development programs such as Women in Leadership (2019) and Accelerate Emerging Executive (2022), both facilitated by Andi Pert, as well as the AFL’s Women in Football Talent Program (2022/23), where she was among five emerging female leaders selected to enhance representation and strengthen pathways for women in AFL men’s football departments. Additionally, since 2021, Jess has been a member of the AFLW Competition Committee.
“We extend our congratulations to Jess on her appointment as the Club’s General Manager of Women’s Football,” remarked a Club spokesperson.
“Jess has proven herself as a capable administrator in the women’s football domain, contributing not only to the advancement of our Club but also to the broader development and promotion of the sport.
“Following a rigorous selection process, the Club’s Board, Executive Team, and senior AFL staff unanimously agreed that Jess was the ideal candidate for this role.
“Her wealth of experience in high-performance administration, combined with her exemplary leadership qualities and deep understanding of football, positions the Club’s women’s football program strongly for the future.
“As a Club, we remain dedicated to investing in our women’s football programs and are confident in Jess’s ability to realize the Club’s strategic vision and elevate our women’s football to elite standards both on and off the field.”
Laura Kane, AFL Executive General Manager Football, also commended Burger’s appointment, stating, “It is truly exciting to witness Jess assume an Executive role within the Club. Having worked across both men’s and women’s football programs, she exemplifies the potential for progression within our elite pathway system.
“Having closely collaborated with her, I can attest to her exceptional football acumen, and I am confident that she and Sam Wright will form an outstanding team at Collingwood.”