Adelaide two-time AFLW Premiership player Marijana Rajcic is preparing to step down from her role in the coaches’ box ahead of the birth of her first child.

Rajcic announced her retirement in January and moved into a coaching role overseeing the defenders she played alongside, ahead of the 2023 AFLW Season.

In April, the 34-year-old and her partner, Crows AFLW Captain Chelsea Randall, announced they were expecting their first child.

Rajcic will continue in her role until Adelaide’s Round Seven match against the Western Bulldogs, and Crows AFL veteran Brodie Smith then will take the reins as the AFLW defensive coach, while Rajcic is on maternity leave.

Adelaide Head of Women’s Football Phil Harper said Rajcic had done an outstanding job with the  young Crows’ defenders, helping the backs concede both a lower shot efficiency (29.3 per cent), and goal efficiency (12.9 per cent) this season.

Harper said the Club wished the former defender well as she embarked on motherhood.

“We’ve had two of our most experienced defenders in Sarah Allan and Najwa Allen spend time on the sidelines due to injury, but our backline has continued to stand up for us,” Harper said.

“Our young defenders have shown great improvement across the first five games and credit to MJ for overseeing that.

“It’s a very exciting time for both MJ and Chels and we can’t wait to watch them both embark on this new chapter.”

Harper said Smith, who volunteered to help out, was a welcome addition to the coaching ranks, with players set to benefit from his experience and football smarts.

“Brodie is a part of our men’s leadership group and has plenty of experience, having played 247 AFL games,” Harper said.

“We think he is the great person to  temporarily fill this AFLW role and we all look forward to having him help maintain our standing as a strong defensive unit.”