Carlton have pulled off a major coup by persuading Hawthorn's fitness and conditioning guru Andrew Russell to join the Blues.

Viewed as one of the AFL's elite fitness and conditioning bosses, Russell will run Carlton's high performance program for the 2019 season.

Andrew Russell is set for a move to the Blues. Credit:Pat Scala

Russell was contracted to Hawthorn for next year but the Hawks have agreed to allow the long-time fitness boss to move to Carlton, in what appears to be a recognition of his 14 years of distinguished service at the club.

He crossed from Port Adelaide to Hawthorn shortly after Alastair Clarkson was appointed senior coach in late 2004. The pair, who had worked together at Port, have been close allies and friends throughout Clarkson's hugely successful era at the Hawks, where he has just signed on until the end of 2022.