Adelaide’s three-time premiership player Chelsea Randall has announced her retirement from AFLW. 

Randall, 35, played 80 games for the Crows after making her debut in the Club’s historic first AFLW match in 2017. 

A five-time All-Australian, 2018 All-Australian captain and 2018 Crows Club Champion, Randall captained Adelaide for eight seasons, first alongside Erin Phillips from 2017 to 2020 and then as sole captain from 2021 to 2023. 

The key-position player was named the AFLW Players’ Most Courageous Player a record six times, was the AFL Coaches Association’s Champion Player of the Year in 2017 and won the inaugural AFLW Showdown Medal in 2022. 

Her decision to retire has been made due to experiencing issues related to concussion. She has been in regular consultation with the Club doctor, independent specialists and the AFL.

Randall said that while she was saddened to end her playing career, her decision had been made 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.

“I am incredibly grateful to the Adelaide Football Club, which has supported me both on and off the field over the past 10 seasons. 

“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.”

Crows Executive General Manager AFLW Bree Brock said Randall had left an indelible mark on both the Club and football more generally.

“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. 

“As a teammate, leader and champion of the game, Chelsea has consistently set the standard through her actions. 

"Her decorated AFLW career stands as a testament to the courage, resilience and elite ability with which she played every moment. 

"We thank her for the legacy she leaves behind and wish her every success as she begins an exciting new chapter.”