Three-time premiership play, five-time all Australian and AFLW trailblazer Chelsea Randall has announced her retirement, following concussion related issues.
Randall, who missed seven consecutive games due to concussion complications last season, has made the decision to retire with "her health and family in mind".
"I will miss the immense joy that playing gave me, I'll miss competing at the highest level, I'll miss sharing the game with my teammates and playing in front of our members and supporters,” Randall said.
The Adelaide defender jumped on the scene in 2017, making her debut in the inaugural Crows AFLW game and has maintained her role as a superstar player ever since, playing 80 games across 10 seasons.
“I am incredibly grateful to the Adelaide Football Club, which has supported me both on and off the field over the past 10 seasons," Randall said.
“I am also so grateful to the AFLW competition as a whole; to have been part of its growth from the very beginning has been an honour and one of the great privileges of my life.”
Randall has captained the Crows for 8 seasons, been named the AFLW's Most Courageous Player a record breaking 6 times and won the inaugural AFL Showdown medal.
However, for Crows Executive General Manager AFLW, Bree Brock, Randall's true legacy lies in the undeniable impact she has had as a role model for girls across South Australia.
"When Chelsea arrived at the Crows ahead of the inaugural AFLW season in 2017, there were 2741 women and girls registered to play football in South Australia,” Brock said.
“Today, that number has surged to 11,822 and Chelsea's trailblazing role in growing the game across our state, as well as her lasting influence, should never be underestimated."
