Adelaide Captain Chelsea Randall says she still “pinches herself” at the opportunity to play elite level football.
The three-time Premiership star will play her 50th AFLW game on the weekend, having been a part of the Crows’ since its formation in 2017.
Over her career thus far, she has earned All-Australian selection on four occasions, won the AFLW Players Most Courageous Award five times and a Showdown Medal.
Speaking to the media on Wednesday, Randall spoke about what reaching the 50 game milestone meant to her.
“It's nice to finally be able to play 50 games,” Randall said.
“I just love being out there, every single time you get the chance to play footy is awesome.”
“You still pinch yourself because when I was that little girl, I didn’t realise it would be possible to play at the elite level and for an AFL club.
“I feel very blessed to be able to stand here today.”
Randall joins teammates Ebony Marinoff, Sarah Allan, Anne Hatchard, Eloise Jones and Stevie-Lee Thompson in notching up 50 games for the Club.
The 32-year-old reflected fondly on her journey to the milestone.
“It has been quite the journey when you think about it from being an 11 year-old girl playing boys footy to an open women's competition, having nothing to really strive for in terms of an AFLW competition,” Randall said.
"I was living in the desert in the Pilbara when the Adelaide Footy Club flew up to come see me out in my small town community that I was working in.
“I wasn’t playing a lot of footy during that time when I was living in the Pilbara, they took a chance on me here at Adelaide and I feel really blessed to end up here.
“Honestly I thought I was only going to be here for six months and then return home to WA, but I have just loved it so very much here in Adelaide - it’s the best footy club ever.”
Randall has been the skipper of the Crows AFLW side since its inception, originally as co-captain from 2017 to 2020 before taking on sole responsibility in 2021, a role she has felt honoured to fulfil.
“I guess for me personally you don’t ask for that role, it's very humbling but the players pick you to be their captain,” Randall said.
“It’s changed each season, I think you have to adapt with the players you get as well.
“It's an interesting journey because in the first years when I was a co-captain with Erin (Phillips) we had great support, we were like Yin and Yang.
“For me it was very much a learning curve and I’m still learning on the go.”
