When three-time premiership star Chelsea Randall first moved to Adelaide to pursue a career in the then start-up AFLW competition, a sense of fear was firmly entrenched in the back of her mind.
Having dreamed her whole life of having a professional football competition to play in, the Western Australian native got her opportunity as part of the Crows’ inaugural women’s team.
But while she was excited for the chance, she carried a weight of expectation in her own mind to ensure the competition would last, and feared it may be taken away.
Fast forward eight years, and Randall’s fears have well and truly evaporated, as she has played a key role in the growth of the competition and, on Wednesday, signed a two-year contract extension that meant her career would last an incredible 10 years.
“In all honesty my very first thoughts coming over to Adelaide were, I was just making sure that the AFLW competition was here to stay,” Randall told the media on Thursday.
“They gave us this competition, but I had this belief they could take it away from us, so as a female footballer that wanted so desperately to play at the elite level for so long, I wanted to do all I could to help the competition grow.
“I’m so grateful I’ve had the opportunity to play in this competition for so long, and to have the opportunity to extend my career out to the point where I’ve played for ten years, it’s very surreal.
“I didn’t have the luxury of being drafted when I was 18, I was 25 when I got the chance to come across to AFLW, so I feel like I’ve missed out on seven years and makes me want to make the most of every minute playing at the elite level.”
Randall did admit that fear of the AFLW being taken away was something that dominated her thoughts through the early years of her career.
That was until one special day in 2019, when all her worries were washed away.
“It was the 2019 Grand Final day when 53,034 people turned up to Adelaide Oval,” Randall said.
“I remember being on the bench when the official attendance came on the screen, and I jumped up out of my seat, did a 360 to the crowd and just thanked everyone.
“They weren’t just showing up for footy, they were showing up for female sport, they were showing up for the next generation and showing up for changing the views of society on what girls can and cannot do.
“It was a powerful moment for every woman, and showed me that I could stop proving people wrong and take the weight of the world off my shoulders at the time.”
At 34 years of age, Randall is still one of Adelaide’s most important players, having been selected in last year’s All Australian team and being a vital part of its forward set-up.
Her importance was recognised by the Club this week in the form of a two-year contract extension, something she said she was honoured to receive.
“It’s pretty special to be re-signing for another two years, having been at this Club since the beginning of the AFLW competition, it’s been a pretty surreal journey looking back on it,” Randall said.
“I left my family and friends behind in WA and set off on this crazy adventure, and for it to still be going now, and continue for the next two years, it’s just a special feeling really.
“I love this footy Club, I love the people in and around it. A lot of people have invested a lot of time and energy into me as both a footballer and person, so I’m just so grateful for that and for the Club believing in me.”
Adelaide will be looking to secure a third win when it faces Hawthorn at Frankston Oval this Sunday, with the first bounce at 2.35pm ACST.
