Chelsea Randall, a triple premiership player for the Adelaide Crows, has been forced to end her AFLW career due to ongoing concussion issues. The 35-year-old signed a contract extension in September last year but suffered a head knock days later that sidelined her for two months. Although she returned for the Crows' finals campaign, she has now decided to retire ahead of the 2026 season.
Consultation and Decision
Randall made the decision after regular consultations with Adelaide's doctor, independent specialists, and the AFL, prioritizing her health and family. “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.
Gratitude and Legacy
She expressed deep gratitude to the Adelaide Football Club for its support over the past 10 seasons and to the AFLW competition for allowing her to be part of its growth from the beginning. “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,” she added.
Randall's retirement marks the end of a distinguished career that included three premierships with the Crows. Her departure highlights the ongoing challenges of concussion management in women's sport.
