When Chelsea Randall would make an uncharacteristic error on the footy field, Marijana Randall (nee Rajcic) would chuckle to herself.
She laughed because she knew the mistake wouldn’t define the moment - Chelsea would respond with something brilliant.
Speaking on this week’s episode of the Crows Chat podcast, Marijana reflected on Chelsea’s 10-season long career following the announcement of her immediate retirement from footy.
“I loved it when she made mistakes, because boy, oh boy, the next incoming was going to be phenomenal, and like a chase-down tackle, a smother, or running back (with the flight) and taking a hanger, there was always something special coming,” Marijana said.
“I know when she speaks about it, she says, ‘I wanted to make the crowd go ooh and ah’, and I kid you not, as a player, as a teammate, like you heard it.
“Anytime she came near the ball, you could hear the crowd start to make noises, and it was something that she succeeded in.
“She was at times kamikaze, but the courage she had, I've never seen it in anybody else, the way she goes about it.”
Chelsea announced her retirement earlier this week after 80 AFLW games, seven seasons as Crows Captain, five All-Australian blazers and six Most Courageous Player Awards, plus three premierships.
Marijana knows Chelsea better than most, having shared the footy field with her as a teammate for six seasons, before she retired and became the team’s defensive coach.
The pair, who tied the knot in 2025, also share a son, Tomi.
Marijana said the week had been “emotional and overwhelming” but she couldn’t be more proud of Chelsea and everything she achieved both on-and-off the footy field.
“It's been a big, big, big week, very overwhelming, lots of emotions, but the outpour of love for Chelsea has been phenomenal, and she deserves everything that's come her way,” Marijana said.
“The care that she shows, the selflessness that she has, you can't not want to play alongside her, play for her, play next to her, and follow her.
“Even when I do a footy clinic or you go to schools and you talk to people about who's your favorite footballer, it’s always ‘Chelsea Randall’. Then it’s followed by a story about how I was at the game and Chelsea showed up, had a photo, spent time, and talked to them.
“I definitely know there's hundreds and hundreds of those Chelsea Randall stories, and that's just a human being that she is.”
To hear more of Marijana’s chat about the legacy Chelsea Randall is leaving on not only the Club, but the competition as a whole, tune in to Crows Chat on Triple M Adelaide or the LiSTNR App on Sunday at 9am.
To catch up on previous episodes of the Crows chat podcast, head to our hub here.
